Falling conviction rate alarms govt, panel set up

Besides Justice Pendse, former judge of the Bombay High Court and former chief justice of the Karnataka High Court, the committee will comprise the advocate general, additional chief secretary (home), director general of police, principal secretary (law and judiciary), commissioner of police, director of public prosecution and lawyer Ujjwal Nikam.

Bhujbal said the conviction rate in 1995 was 32.9 per cent, followed by 18.18 per cent in 1996, 18.1 per cent in 1997 and 16 per cent in 1998. “From the official records, I found that in 65 per cent of the cases, the investigations were complete, however, there was conviction in less than 16 per cent.”

On the committee’s terms of reference, he said the panel will submit recommendations on effective coordination between investigating officials and lawyers, measures to improve investigation, evaluation of documents before chargesheets are filed in court, training for investigating officers in evidence-gathering among other things. The committee will submit its report within three months, he added.

On the performance of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police, Bhujbal said that the services of noted chartered accountants as well as auditors will be appointed for the unit. “During 1999, the EOW registered a record 143 cases involving property worth Rs 343 crore. Of this, property worth Rs 164 crore has already been recovered,” he said.

“If the EOW is provided with experts, it will certainly improve its performance. To review its performance, a committee comprising the commissioner of police, additional director general of police, secretaries of the departments of home and finance has been set up. Besides chartered accountants and leading lawyers, the EOW will also take assistance from the surplus staff of other departments,” Bhujbal added.