CBI unveils plan to clear backlog of cases

The Central Bureau of Investigation, in an effort to reduce the increasing backlog of pending cases in trial courts, has withdrawn prosecution in 12 cases, some of them as old as 33 years, with the requisite government's permission.

The agency has also moved the government to permit the withdrawal of prosecution in  21 more cases. Withdrawals are permitted under the broad parameters laid down by the Supreme Court.

The CBI has now set itself a target of completing the trial of corruption cases within two years, with the help of 71 new special CBI courts, sanctioned by the Centre.

The agency has also swiftly completed the trial in 16 cases, using a new provision of plea bargaining, introduced in the Code of Criminal Procedure since July 2006, according to a spokesperson.

A plea bargaining involves the accused admitting his/her guilt in a criminal case to settle it under the supervision of court, with the consent of all related parties including the investigating agency, the prosecutor, the victim and the accused.

The CBI is open to such plea bargain requests and will encourage the accused persons to avail the benefits of the legal remedies available to them, the spokesman said.

He said the government has also agreed to set up 71 new special courts exclusively for the trial of CBI cases, to reduce the backlog of cases, which have been accumulating due to the huge gap between the annual institution of cases and their disposal by the courts.

These courts will prove to be model courts as they will hold day-to-day hearings to avoid unnecessary adjournments. Recurring expenditure of Rs 30 lakh per annum and non-recurring expenditure of Rs 15 lakh is estimated on setting up each Special CBI Court.

The spokesman said the state governments have been asked to expeditiously set up these courts as per their entitlement.

The additional special CBI courts sanctioned by the government include five in Andhra Pradesh, six in Maharashtra, two in Rajasthan, 15 in Delhi, one in Chhattisgarh, two in Gujarat, one each in Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir and two in Madhya Pradesh.