Mallika Dureja
LUCKNOW In 2022, for the second year in a row, Uttar Pradesh had the maximum number of legal cases resolved through the “e-Prosecution portal.” According to official data, the state also recorded the maximum number of case entries on the national portal.
“As of February, Uttar Pradesh had 1,11,86,030 cases entered on the portal, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 29,31,335 cases, Bihar with 11,89,288 cases, Gujarat with 5,16,310 cases, and Chhattisgarh with 4,71,655 cases,” said Ashutosh Pandey, additional director general of police (prosecution). He added, “The e-Prosecution portal becomes operational once police submit a charge document in a case. Once the case details are uploaded, the platform monitors the issuance of summonses to produce witnesses.
Using the portal, officials ensure that witnesses are informed of their court date, that government attorneys and others engaged have access to pertinent information in advance, and that the prosecution is able to prepare a strong case to ensure conviction.
In 2021, the conviction rate for crimes against women in Uttar Pradesh was 59.1%, compared to the national average of 26.1%. “The state has also made steady progress in securing convictions. In 671 rape cases in 2022, as opposed to 177 in 2020, convictions were obtained,” he added.
Similarly, the number of Pocso Act convictions increased from 535 in 2020 to 2,313 in 2019. The conviction rate for dowry-related homicide, kidnapping, and sexual harassment has increased by 220%, 475%, and 2,075%, respectively, over the past two years.
As part of the Interoperable Criminal Justice System, the portal, which is administered by the Centre as part of its Digital India Mission, facilitates communication between the police department and the prosecution directorate (ICJS). This facilitates the transfer of data between courts, police, jails, and forensic science laboratories, with the aim of expediting justice for victims and their families.
“Our goal is to bring all parties engaged in the prosecution together to ensure that justice is delivered in a timely manner. “The e-Prosecution portal is essential for achieving this,” the officer added. The officer stated, “The trophy for 2022, which we just received, will also be sent to the districts to inspire pride in our prosecutors and police officers for their efforts to ensure convictions in cases.”
