Delayed Justice for Victims in Pune
Delayed Justice for Victims in Pune
In recent cases like the sexual assault in Badlapur, murders because of one-sided love, and child sexual abuse, many victims have faced years waiting for justice. In Pune, there have been no judges available for the fast-track court for the past four years. Additionally, only one court is currently handling cases related to child sexual abuse under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act.
Three years ago, a girl in Bibvewadi, Pune, was brutally murdered because of a one-sided love affair while she was in the eighth grade. She was stabbed 42 times, leading to her tragic death. Her parents have been fighting for justice ever since, and this exhausting battle has taken a toll on their family, causing them to lose their differently-abled son due to the stress. They mentioned that after three years, only the charges against the accused have been established, and the trial and punishment are still far away.
Growing Number of Cases
There are around 4,000 cases of child and minor abuse in Pune, with 3,600 of them occurring in the city. However, only one judge is available to manage these cases, as the second judge retired last April and the position remains vacant. Santosh Khamkar, president of the Pune Bar Association, highlighted this issue.
Statewide Issues
The situation is similar throughout the state, where fast-track and POCSO courts are facing backlogs. Cases like the Badlapur incident and others, such as the Naina Pujari and Jyoti Kumari Chaudhary murder cases, have not seen any punishment for the accused yet. For the public to trust the justice system, these cases need to be processed quickly, and the sentences must be enforced. Only then can we hope to prevent incidents like those in Badlapur.
Need for New Court Facilities
Victims and their families are struggling for years to get justice. This delay adds a second layer of suffering caused by the system. Instead of healing from their trauma, families are becoming more hopeless due to these delays. To change this, it is essential to complete the new building for courts handling POCSO cases as soon as possible.
