The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has raised concerns about significant delays in the finalization of corruption cases, hampering the progress of trials. The CVC's latest annual report reveals that a staggering 6,841 FIRs investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are currently pending trials in various courts across the country as of December 31, 2022.
The report indicates that a significant number of these cases have been pending for extended periods, with 2,039 cases awaiting trial for over a decade and up to two decades. Additionally, 2,324 cases are pending for more than five years and up to 10 years, 842 cases for more than three years and up to five years, and 1,323 cases for less than three years.
Among the cases pending trial, 313 have been delayed for over 20 years, highlighting the dire need to address the issue of judicial delays.
The report also highlights another concerning aspect of the delays – a total of 12,408 appeals and revisions in corruption cases are pending in different High Courts and the Supreme Court. Among these, 417 petitions have been stuck for more than 20 years.
The report reveals that the CBI, responsible for conducting thorough investigations within a year, has struggled to complete investigations in a timely manner. The agency has not managed to conclude investigations in 692 cases, 42 of which have been pending for more than five years as of December 31, 2022.
Reasons attributed to the sluggish disposal of cases include "delay in investigation due to excessive work", "inadequacy of manpower", "delay in obtaining responses to Letters Rogatory (LRs)", and "time taken in locating and examining witnesses living in distant places".
Source: Link
Picture Source :
