Rape cases alone stand at 612, Councils’ Courts top pending cases chart
SHILLONG: As many as 1,248 cases related to various crimes against women are pending in many courts in Meghalaya.
As per official data of the Law Department, while the general cases of crime against women pending before courts are 636, the number of pending rape cases is 612.
Out of 646 rape cases registered, only 33 were disposed of by the courts in the State, and out of 915 general cases against women, as many as 279 were disposed of.
In this context, there has been a demand to set up special courts to deal exclusively with cases of crime related to women.
The State Government had already written to the High Court of Meghalaya for notification of a Special Court to deal with the matter.
An official with the Law Department said during a recent discussion, there has been positive feedback to set up the Special Court.
While the maximum number of pending cases are in the District Council Court, Shillong (123), the second highest is in the court of Deputy Commissioner Khliehriat with 62.
There are also many pending cases with the District Council Court, Tura (22) judicial officer first class subordinate court, GHADC (31) and the District Council Court JHADC, Jowai (21).
The number of cases pending in other courts include District and Sessions Judge, Shillong (8), Chief Judicial Magistrate, Shillong (44), Assistant to Deputy Commissioner, Shillong (18) courts of various Judicial Magistrates, First Class, Shillong (84), Sohra Sub Divisional Court (2), Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nongpoh (12), two courts of First Class Judicial Magistrate Nongpoh (24), Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jowai (3), Judicial Magistrate First Class (8), Deputy Commissioner, Mawkyrwat (2) District and Sessions Judge, Tura (37), Chief Judicial Magistrate, Tura (14), First Class Judicial Magistrate Tura, (6), District and Sessions Court (18), Court of judicial officer first class, Tura (44), Chief Judicial Magistrate, in charge Dadenggre Sub Division (34), First Class Judicial Magistrate, Mairang (2), District and Sessions Judge, Willamnagar (3), Chief Judicial Magistrate Williamnagar (4), Deputy Commissioner Ampati (1), and District and Sessions Judge, Nongstoin (9).
POCSO cases
While the updated figure related to pending cases especially regarding rape and molestation of minors is yet to be made available, till 2014, as many as 142 cases are pending with various courts in Meghalaya.
At present, the Judges of District and Sessions Courts in six districts are handling the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) cases for the entire State.
Since the Judges are overburdened, a request has gone to the High Court of Meghalaya from the Law department to set up an exclusive Special Court to deal only with POCSO cases.