DCW urges PM to establish fast track courts

She also expressed deep anguish and pain at the growing incidents of "communalisation of rapes" and said earlier such incidents were rare, but now the religion of the victim has suddenly become important.

Thanking the prime minister for approving an ordinance to allow courts to award the death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age, she cautioned that the ordinance will not lead to any real change on the ground unless it is ensured that all rape cases are tried within six months for which there is an urgent need to strengthen the resources. In the ordinance which got presidential assent on April 22, the deadline for the completion of trial in all rape cases will be two months and a six-month time limit for the disposal of appeals in rape cases has also been prescribed.

Maliwal observed hunger strike for 10 days at Rajghat till April 22 and ended it after President Ram Nath Kovind promulgated the ordinance.

The DCW chief in a letter has requested him to uphold the decision of the cabinet - that fast track courts and special police resources will be created in the next three months in the country specifically for handling rape cases.

"She has requested the prime minister to set up a special task force across the states consisting of highest representatives of Centre, states and judiciary to create a plan in the next 15 days for creation of new fast track courts and provision of additional police resources for handling rape cases.

"She has requested that a meeting of the Union Home Minister, Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Delhi, Police Commissioner and DCW be called urgently to create a plan for increasing police resources and fast track courts in the capital," an

official said.