-The Indian Express New Delhi: Days after the December 16 gangrape incident, hundreds of rape cases were sent to special fast track courts for a speedy trial. In fact, in January this year, six newly created special fast track courts for sexual offences received over 500 cases within three weeks of their creation. A year later, the trial in the December 16 case is complete. The case is midway through appeal...

-The Hindu During 2008-10 it was 17.4 per cent in the State against national average of 31 per cent Chennai (Tamil Nadu): The conviction rate in cases of atrocities against SC/STs in Tamil Nadu during 2008-10 was 17.4 per cent. This is very low compared to the national average of about 31 per cent, the Union Home Ministry has submitted before the Madras High Court. The Ministry submitted this in an affidavit in response...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: At a time when 16,000-odd trial courts, 21 high courts and the Supreme Court are battling with over three crore Pendency, a nationwide simultaneous holding of lok adalats opened on Saturday by Chief Justice P Sathasivam achieved a world record by disposing of 35.1 lakh cases within eight hours. "What is important is that these cases will be settled and reach a finality without litigants going...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: A high-level meeting on judicial reforms has been called by law minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday to deliberate on important issues, including the litigation policy and making audio-video recording of all court proceedings mandatory. The meeting of the advisory council of the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, headed by the law minister, will be attended by advisor to the prime minister Sam Pitroda,...

-The Hindu The ordinance seeking to amend the Representation of the People Act interferes with the exercise of judicial power Bill LXII of 2013, namely, The Representation of the People (Second Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2013 is pending before Parliament. I examine here whether the Bill, when passed as an Act or its provisions promulgated as an Ordinance, will be unconstitutional or not. Declared principle The constitutional principle applicable in a situation analogous to...