Question : UNDERTRIALS LODGED IN JAILS

(a) the total number of undertrials lodged in the various jails of the country at present, State/UT and jail-wise and particularly for those undertrails belonging to Jammu and Kashmir;

(b) whether the Government has set up Fast Track Court for speedy trial of such undertrials and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the rate of conviction of undertrials and the details of their acquittals during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise including those belonging to Jammu and Kashmir?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 399 FOR 05.08.2014

(a): As per data compiled by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) at the end on 2012, the total number of undertrial prisoners in the country was 2,54,857. A statement showing State/UT wise number of undertrials including those belonging to Jammu & Kashmir lodged in the jails of the country is at Annexure- I.

(b): Setting up of subordinate courts including Fast Track Courts (FTCs) for speedy trial of cases is the responsibility of the State Governments under the Constitution of India. The Government has written to the Chief Justices of the High Courts to constitute FTCs for speedy trial of pending rape cases in District/Subordinate courts having a high pendency of such cases and to monitor progress of these cases. The Chief Ministers of States have been requested to provide financial support to the High Courts for setting up FTCs for cases of crime against women. The Government has also requested the State Governments and High Courts to consider setting up FTCs for disposal of cases relating to offences against women, children, differently abled persons, senior citizens and marginalised sections of society as resolved in the Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices held on 7th April 2013. The Government has requested the State Governments and the Chief Justices of the High Courts to utilise 10% additional posts of judges being created in the subordinate judiciary in pursuance of the direction of the Supreme Court in Brij Mohan Lal case, for setting up of Fast Track Courts also. For meeting the expenditure on the salaries of these 10% additional posts, Central Government has decided to provide funds upto a maximum of Rs. 80 crore per annum on a matching basis upto 31-03-2015 from the Thirteenth Finance Commission Award.

(c): As per data available, the State/UT wise conviction rates and acquittal rates under total cognizable IPC crimes for the years 2011 to 2013 including those of Jammu & Kashmir is at Annexure-II.