A backlog of cases? Send them to Pune

Though one year out of this five-year scheme has already lapsed, the states have so far set up only 1,080 FTCs, with even less than about 800 actually functioning. Pune remains the honourable exception, with 10 FTCs — five dealing with urban Pune and five for the surrounding rural areas.

Ever since they were set up in April 2001, the FTCs in Pune have adjudicated on 536 criminal cases that were pending in sessions court since 1996-97. That’s 48 cases a month, or an average of two cases every day.

A case study: Chandrakant Manave, a 29-year-old from Pune who was arrested on charges of harassing and murdering his wife in early 2001, was chargesheeted by a Judicial Magistrate First Class court in February. He spent seven months as an undertrial in prison waiting for a hearing. In August 2001, his case was transferred to a FTC, and after just four hearings, he was acquitted in January 2002.

The conviction rate handed out in the FTCs is also unusually high. ‘‘Sixty-three convictions,’’ says Pune District Government Pleader Dnyandev Shinde. ‘‘That’s 11.75 % of the cases decided by the fast track courts.’’ Informed sources put the corresponding rate of conviction in Pune’s district sessions court at just 7 per cent. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dr Dnyaneshwar Chavan, attributed the high conviction rate to speedy trial.

The courts are now trying cases as recent as those filed in the last lap of 2001 or even January 2002, and their success has prompted the administration to think of decentralising the courts. One of the FTCs will soon be moved to Baramati in Pune district.

There are reasons FTCs have done so well in Pune: the city got 10 of the 187 FTCs allotted to Maharashtra. According to a senior judicial functionary, Pune’s judicial pendency has traditionally been lower than other cities.

Another reason: An unusual harmony between the Bar and judiciary. Even after the number of courts here went up to 26 after the FTCs came up, the 16 public prosecutors have managed to do justice to the increased workload. With judges not having to deal with routine court matters, hearings are rarely postponed.

The success rate is despite the fact that just five FTCs are functioning at any given time. One hiccup was the issue of who would head these courts — the FTCs had been functioning with retired judges. One of them resigned; another was elevated as head of the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal. Now, FTC judges will be chosen from among serving members of judicial services.