SC notice to centre on fast-tracking sexual abuse cases

The Supreme Court Friday issued notice to the central government on two PILs seeking fast-tracking of all cases of sexual abuse against women and awarding them compensation.

The court also issued notice on the the plea seeking creation of additional courts, improving judicial infrastructure and filling of existing vacancies.

An apex court bench of Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice Dipak Misra, however, declined to entertain a plea seeking directions to disqualify elected representatives facing criminal cases.

The court said that it could not pass orders on such a plea and that it would issue notice only on the prayers that concerned the violation of the people's fundamental rights.

The notice is returnable in four weeks. The court issued notice on the petitions that were filed in the wake of the gang-rape and torture of a young women by six men in a moving bus in Delhi.

One of the petitioners is Promila Shanker, a retired Indian Administrative Service officer.