Latest news with #IndiaJusticeReport-2025
Hans India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
It's time Centre takes India Justice Report's findings as a wake-up call
Dr BR Ambedkar once said 'justice has always evoked ideas of equality, of proportion of compensation. In short, justice is another name of liberty, equality and fraternity...A just society is that society in which an ascending sense of reverence and descending sense of contempt is dissolved into the creation of a compassionate society.' Justice to all irrespective of their caste and religion is one of the key mandates of our Constitution. Therefore, we must not ignore for heaven's sake what has been highlighted in India Justice Report-2025 (IJR-2025). Its key findings include a 22 per cent vacancy rate among judges, with High Courts experiencing a 30 per cent shortfall, leading to over 5.2 crore pending cases nationwide, some exceeding 30 years in duration. Prisons are overcrowded at 130 per cent capacity, with 77 per cent of inmates awaiting trial. The police force faces a 29 per cent vacancy in officer positions and maintains a low female representation of 11.75 per cent. Financial constraints are evident, as most states allocate less than one per cent of their annual budgets to the judiciary, and per capita spending on free legal aid stands at just Rs 3.87 annually. Yet Karnataka leads among large states in justice delivery, while Uttar Pradesh ranks lowest. The urgency for systemic reforms to enhance efficiency, inclusivity, and accessibility within India's justice system has become the need of the hour. The IJR-2025, the fourth such comprehensive assessment published by Tata Trusts in collaboration with a consortium of civil society organisations, provides a sobering assessment of how the country's justice system continues to falter on key indicators, especially for the most marginalised. The police force continues to be overwhelmingly male and dominated by privileged caste groups. Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Class (OBC) personnel form 59 per cent of the police workforce but 61 per cent of them remain concentrated at the constable level. At the level of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and above, the presence of officers from marginalised groups was found to be drastically low. Several states have just one legal aid lawyer for every 10,000-30,000 eligible citizens, and lack of training, poor working conditions, and delayed payments continue to undermine the effectiveness of the legal aid system. What is more troubling is the sharp and continuing rise in the population of undertrials. As per the latest figures, 77.1 per cent of all prisoners in India are undertrials, up from 69 per cent a decade ago. This increase reflects not only procedural delays but also deep-rooted biases in the criminal justice system. What is more agonizing is the fact that among undertrials, the overrepresentation of Dalits, Adivasis and Muslims is stark. These three communities together form a disproportionately high share of undertrials compared to their population. For instance, while Muslims constitute about 14.2 per cent of the population, they make up over 17.4 per cent of undertrials. Similarly, those from SC and ST communities together make up more than 32 per cent of the undertrial population. At the cost of repetition, I would like to state what Droupadi Murmu said in her valedictory address on November 26, 2022 at the Constitution Day celebration organized by the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi: 'It is said that jails are getting overcrowded and there is a need to set up more jails. Are we moving towards development? What is the need to set up more jails? We need to reduce their numbers,' she said. 'You need to do something for these people. Who are these people in jail? They do not know the fundamental rights, preamble or the fundamental duties,' she added. She said these people are in jails for slapping somebody or for similar minor offences, and they were slapped with legal provisions even as some of these provisions do not apply in such cases. President Murmu had said that people do not get their family members freed from jails as they feel their properties and utensils at home would have to be sold (in the process). On the other hand, there are some people who do many things, even kill others, but they are roaming free, she said. One doesn't know the kind of efforts being made to ensure that undertrials facing minor charges are released from jails. The prolonged incarceration of undertrials undermines the fundamental principle of 'innocent until proven guilty,' leading to severe psychological trauma, stigmatization, and loss of livelihood for the individuals involved. Families often face financial ruin, and children of undertrials are pushed into cycles of poverty and neglect. Access to justice must be a cornerstone of our democracy. The glaring underrepresentation of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in India's judiciary deepens the crisis of exclusion in a country already grappling with entrenched social inequalities. When only five per cent of district judges are from STs, 14 per cent from SCs, and just 25.6 per cent from OBCs — with similarly dismal numbers in High Court appointments — it reinforces systemic biases and limits the ability of marginalized communities to see justice as accessible and impartial. In a society where discrimination is multifaceted — spanning caste, class, and gender — the lack of diversity on the bench not only erodes public trust in the judiciary but also perpetuates a cycle where the lived realities of disadvantaged groups remain invisible within legal interpretations and a firm policy of reservation in the judiciary is the only remedy. We must change our policy of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. In a participatory democracy, the participation of SCs, STs and OBCs in the judicial system must be ensured. The Karia Munda Report-2000 and EM Sudarsana Natchiappan Committee offer more than enough reasons to make our higher judiciary inclusive. PV Sawant had observed in his judgement in the Mandal Commission case that a small section of the society, which is 10 per cent of our total population, controls, directs and regulates all aspects of life, mostly to suit their own interest. This has resulted in the concentration of the power in the hands of a select social group. But then who cares!
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Time of India
HC deplores overcrowding in jails, gives state 2 wks to submit data on staff shortage
Nagpur: Expressing concern over deteriorating conditions in Maharashtra's overcrowded prisons, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court has given the state two weeks to submit detailed data on staff shortage, recruitment timelines, and the per-inmate expenditure in jails across the state. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai A division bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi, hearing a criminal writ petition filed by Nanded-based undertrial Sachin Lone, took exception to the incomplete affidavits filed by the state's principal secretary (appeals & security) and the special inspector general of prisons. The court said it was "compelled" to consider issuing contempt notices, observing that officials "intentionally avoided" complying with its March 20 order directing submission of prison-wise staffing data, vacancy percentages, and details of the last official review of staffing needs. The judges flagged the systemic understaffing plaguing prisons Bombay high court observed that "almost every prison in Maharashtra is overcrowded" and in some facilities "the number of inmates lodged is double the sanctioned capacity". They said this burden compromises prison administration and leads to delays in decision-making, especially on prisoners' applications. "Recruitment underway will only address 25% of the vacancies. Still, around 15% will remain unfilled, for which immediate steps are necessary," the bench said, referring to the state's own affidavit that cited a 40% shortfall in sanctioned staff strength. Justice Sambre also referred to his recent official visit to Nagpur Central Jail with SC judge and SC Legal Services Authority chairman Justice Bhushan Gavai. "We found the staff-to-inmate ratio alarming. The number of sanctioned staff itself is inadequate, and vacancies only worsen the situation. Prisoners were found to be suffering from skin ailments and infections. We were told medical staff was insufficient, forcing reliance on govt hospitals," he said. The judges stressed that all jails must have 24x7 availability of medical personnel, including physicians and psychiatrists, and cited Supreme Court's landmark Sunil Batra versus Delhi administration judgment affirming prisoners' fundamental rights. Citing the India Justice Report-2025, the petitioner's counsel Ratna Singh, assisted by Arpit Wagide, pointed out that Maharashtra spends just Rs 47 per inmate daily, compared to Rs733 in Andhra Pradesh. While the court said it was not accepting those figures as accurate, it directed the state to disclose its actual per-prisoner expenditure. The HC also criticised the state's failure to provide cadre-wise vacancy data. The next hearing is slated on May 6.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Maha jails cramped at double capacity amid 40% staff shortage, HC gives 2-week ultimatum
Nagpur: Raising concern over deteriorating conditions in Maharashtra's overcrowded prisons, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court recently gave a two-week ultimatum to state govt to submit detailed data on staff shortages, recruitment timelines, and the per-inmate expenditure in jails across the state. A division bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi, while hearing a criminal writ petition filed by Nanded-based undertrial Sachin Lone, took exception to the incomplete affidavits filed by the state's principal secretary (appeals & security) and the special inspector general of prisons. The court warned that it was "compelled" to consider issuing contempt notices, observing that officials "intentionally avoided" complying with its March 20 order directing submission of prison-wise staffing data, vacancy percentages, and details of the last official review of staffing needs. The judges flagged the systemic understaffing plaguing prisons, noting that "almost every prison in Maharashtra is overcrowded" and in some facilities, "the number of inmates lodged is double the sanctioned capacity". They said this burden severely compromises prison administration and leads to delays in decision-making, especially on prisoners' applications. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like El-bayadh: AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Aroun... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo "Recruitment underway will only address 25% of the vacancies. Still, around 15% will remain unfilled, for which immediate steps are necessary," the bench said, referring to the state's own affidavit that cited a 40% shortfall in sanctioned staff strength. Justice Sambre also referred to his recent official visit to Nagpur Central Jail with Supreme Court judge and SC Legal Services Authority chairman Justice Bhushan Gavai. "We found the staff-to-inmate ratio alarming. The number of sanctioned staff itself is inadequate, and vacancies only worsen the situation. Prisoners were found to be suffering from skin ailments and infections. We were told medical staff was insufficient, forcing reliance on govt hospitals," he said. The judges stressed that all jails must have 24x7 availability of medical personnel, including physicians and psychiatrists, and cited Supreme Court's landmark Sunil Batra versus Delhi Administration judgment affirming prisoners' fundamental rights. Citing the India Justice Report-2025, petitioner's counsel Ratna Singh, assisted by Arpit Wagide, pointed out that Maharashtra reportedly spends just Rs47 per inmate daily, compared to Rs733 in Andhra Pradesh. While the court said it was not accepting those figures as accurate, it directed the state to disclose its actual per-prisoner expenditure. The court also criticised the state's failure to provide cadre-wise vacancy data and called for urgent attention to the health and living conditions of inmates in overcrowded prisons. By way of a "last chance," the bench directed the additional chief secretary (Home) and the additional director general (prisons) to file a fresh affidavit by May 5. The next hearing is slated on May 6. BOX KEY TAKEAWAYS IN HC ORDER * Expressed concern over overcrowding, with some jails housing double their sanctioned capacity * Warned of possible contempt action for failure to comply with March 20 directives. * Highlighted poor medical care, including lack of 24x7 doctors, psychiatrists, and skin infection treatment * Quoted fundamental rights of prisoners as per Sunil Batra judgment * Granted last chance to file a detailed affidavit by May 5, or face action xxxx
Hans India
26-04-2025
- Hans India
Telangana police are doing wonderfully well in tackling cybercrimes
The Indian Police is the most visible face of governance and plays a crucial role in maintaining law and order and ensuring justice- Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Telangana Police is at the forefront in using technology and providing unique digital services to the people. It has emerged as one of the most progressive law enforcement agencies in our country. Since the formation of Telangana state in 2014, the police department has launched several forward-thinking initiatives that are aimed at enhancing public safety and ensuring efficient service. These initiatives span across crime prevention, cyber security, women's safety, traffic management, and digital policing. The India Justice Report-2025 that ranks the capacity of states to deliver justice has lauded several schemes and initiatives taken by the Telangana police. M-governance initiative The Telangana police department was awarded the prestigious 15th National Digital Engineering Award under the 'M-Governance Initiative' category for 2024. It was conferred for the outstanding results achieved by the department in connection with the e-petty cases project which has given good results. A digital initiative, E-Petty Mobile Application System will enhance public safety through digital evidence-based enforcement. This innovative initiative was launched by the state police in 2016, which was expanded statewide by 2018. This system helps in real-time case registration in which police can register offenses immediately, capturing photographs and recording videos, and geo-tag locations. Based on the collected evidence, the system generates charge sheets that are submitted to courts which is facilitating immediate judicial processes. Impact The number of e-petty cases has seen significant growth, with Hyderabad City police registering 3,78,732 cases in 2021; 4,19,610 in 2022, and 2,19,977 in 2023. The implementation of the e-Petty system has resulted in a 35-40 per cent decline in serious crimes in Hyderabad. International digital engineering award Immersion of Ganesh idols within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits sees a significant increase every year. To ensure a smooth and safe immersion process, the police have implemented an advanced immersion tracking system to manage the large-scale processions effectively. This system integrates technologies such as AI and GIS and drone surveillance to ensure safety and efficiency. This immaculate execution has fetched the department the prestigious 'International digital engineering award' in the 'Digital Transformation of the Year' category at Dallas last December. Cybercrime victims Cybercrimes have been rising in Telangana. Business investment and part time job scams, digital arrest, fake customer care services, and debit and credit card frauds are the prevalent types of cyber frauds in the state. The police have developed a robust system for delivering justice to cybercrime victims through a combination of specialised service. The separate cyber police stations are equipped with officers trained in handling crimes like online fraud, cyberstalking, identity theft and phishing, among others. Police register cases under IT Act-2000 that cover crimes like hacking, data theft, identity theft, cyber stalking and cyber bullying, obscenity and pornography. A Digital Personal Data Protection Act was passed in 2023 to regulate data privacy in a more compressive way. The state police saw a 26.65 per cent rise in FIRs related to cybercrimes with 24,643 cases registered in 2024 compared to 16,339 in 2023. The highest number of cyber cases are registered in Cyberabad (25,112), followed by Hyderabad (20,299) and Rachakonda (14,815). Relief to cyber victims The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) launched the 'National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal' (NCRP), as a part of the 'Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre' (I4C) to enable the public to report incidents pertaining to all types of cyber-crimes. Last year, in Telangana state, the figure of cyber victims was 1,20,854 (93,142 financial and 27,712 non-financial victims). PROTECT Telangana police launched several cyber awareness campaigns to educate citizens about digital safety and protect them from online or digital threats. Major initiatives like P.R.O.T.E.C.T. (Preventing Risks online through education collaboration and training), cybHER, cyber ambassadors, Cyber Jaagrookta Diwas activities include interactive sessions, street plays and awareness drives at public places. Telangana Police has achieved better results than last year (Rs. 33.27 crore) giving relief to 4,893 cyber victims as on December 14, 2024. Police helped recover Rs. 43.3 crores that were lost by 4,961 cyber victims in the mega lok adalat which was held on March 8. The efforts of Telangana police in combating cybercrimes are excellent. Sophisticated cyber criminals are adopting advanced technology to exploit innocent people. To put an end to cybercrimes, Telangana police, in collaboration with international organizations, are adapting specialized cybercrime units and investing with advanced digital forensic tools and developing various web applications and Apps. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these efforts relies on proactive strategies, legal reforms, and increased public awareness to ensure a safer digital environment for all. (The writer is the Director General of Police, Telangana)
