In an order that questions the efficiency and casts doubt on the talent of investigation officers and prosecutors in cases which have ended up in over 70,000 acquittals of accused persons every year between 2012 and 2014, the Madras High Court has directed the State government to produce before it the details of cases in the last 10 years that have ended in exoneration.
“It is shocking to note from the circular that an average of 70,000 cases per year have ended in acquittal during 2012-14. The rate of acquittal would only demonstrate that something is wrong either on the side of the investigation officers or the way in which the prosecutors conduct the cases before the courts,” Justice N. Kirubakaran said in a recent order, while dealing with certain criminal original petitions.
The judge has directed the State government to file district-wise details on the number of cases filed every year for the past 10 years. He also sought a separate statement listing heinous crime cases and the rate of conviction in the cases and further the case for June 16.
Following a High Court direction to the State government last month to verify as to whether it had formulated a procedure for taking action against erring investigating and prosecuting officials as per the apex court judgment, Additional Advocate General Arvind Pandian produced a communication from the DGP dated April 27 this year.
DGP's circular
The DGP through a circular dated April 26 this year has constituted district-level and city-level Standing Committee in each of the districts and cities consisting police officers and prosecution officials to review all acquittal cases and take proper action against the police officers. The circular was to comply with the orders of the apex court, the communication indicated.
“The Standing Committee shall identify the erring investigation or prosecuting officials as responsible for failure of prosecution case on account of sheer negligence or because of culpable lapses,” the circular stated.
The Standing Committees would review all the orders of the acquittal under their jurisdiction and analyse each and every case individually and ascertain the flaws, in the investigation and or prosecution or both. These committees would conduct their meetings once a month.
Shocked to note
that 70,000 cases
per year ended in
acquittal
during 2012-14
