(a) whether attention of the Government has been drawn to the news item captioned `The disorder of law-poor conviction rates underline the failure of the system` appearing in `Indian Express` dated May 20, 2001;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the Government`s reaction thereto; and
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to reform the system?
THE MINISTER OF LAW, JUSTICE AND COMPANY AFFAIRS & SHIPPING (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)
(a) : Sir, no such news item has been found in the `Indian Express` dated May 20, 2001.
(b): Does not arise.
(c ) The Law Commission of India in its 154th Report have recommended measures inter-alia to improve the quality of investigation of cases, quality of prosecutions and to prevent the witnesses turning hostile. The Law Commission`s recommendation relating to establishment of separate investigating agency was forwarded to State Governments for implementation. The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 1994 introduced in Rajya Sabha on 9th May 1994 inter-alia proposes to insert a new Section 25-A in the Cr.PC to empower the State Government to establish the Directorate of Prosecution which is likely to enhance the quality of prosecutions.