Too many acquittals in crime cases spur govt into action

Forms advisory boards at three levels to study reasons for non-conviction

The State government will keep a check on criminal cases that end up in acquittals. To study the reasons for acquittals, the government has formed advisory boards in Bengaluru as well as in six police ranges and districts across the State.

Following a Supreme Court order in January this year, the government formed three boards recently—State Advisory Board, Range Advisory Board and District Advisory Board. Each board will meet regularly to discuss the reasons for acquittals and suggest remedial measures.

In 2013, Karnataka’s conviction rate of IPC (Indian Penal Code) cases was 32.5 per cent, way below the national average of 40.2 per cent, as per Crime India statistics of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The conviction rate in crimes against women was also dismally low: less than five per cent.

“The State advisory board will be headed by ADGP (Crime) with the directors of Prosecution and Karnataka Police Academy as members. In the ranges concerned, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) will head the board with two members. In districts, the Additional Superintendent of Police will head the board with two members,” an official said.

The reasons for acquittals could be faulty investigation and prosecution. Sometimes witnesses turn hostile or do not testify during the trial, the official said.

The State board will meet every six months and submit its report on the reasons for acquittals and remedial measurers to improve the conviction rate.

It will take up terrorism cases and those tried under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. It will also take up cases that have state-wide and sometimes national ramification.

Flaws in investigations
The range boards will take up heinous crimes, crimes against women and find out if there were any flaws in police investigation or prosecution. The district boards will take up cases that carried imprisonment of up to seven years but had ended up in acquittal.

“The district boards will meet every month since their cases would be more. The boards will also identify if there was dereliction of duty by any official which resulted in acquittal,” the official said.

In order to improve the quality of investigation, the State police will also take action against the investigating officer if the board concerned finds lapses and dereliction of duty on his/her part.