Lok Sabha Question No. 3824 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-16
Subject: Conviction Rate
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ravneet Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3824

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16 TH  JULY, 2019/ ASHADHA 25, 1941 (SAKA)

## CONVICTION RATE

3824. SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  as  per  the  data  released  by  the  National  Crime  Records Bureau  (NCRB)  in  the  past  decades,  the  rate  of  conviction  in  crimes committed under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has dropped considerably;

(b) if so, the conviction rate of various crimes at present along with the States which are lagging behind and the reasons therefor, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether inadequacy of investigation officers and prosecuting officers is one of the reason for the low conviction rate; and

(d) if so, the steps taken or being taken by the Government to increase the conviction rate?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a): No, Sir.  In fact, the conviction rate for the total cognizable crimes under IPC on all India basis has gone up from 42.4% in 2005 to 46.8% in 2016.

(b): Does not arise.

(c): Apart  from  inadequacy  of  investigation  officers  and  prosecuting officers;   inadequate   infrastructure,   judicial   delays,   witness   turning

## L.S.US.Q.NO.3824 FOR 16.07.2019

hostile, delay in reporting of crime resulting in loss of evidences, etc. are responsible for lower conviction rate.

(d):  'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the  Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and State  Governments  are responsible  for  prevention,  detection,  registration  and  investigation  of crime  and  for  prosecuting  the  criminals  through  their  law  enforcement agencies. However, in order to facilitate police in States/UTs to effectively deal with the crimes, Government of India has inter alia taken following measures:

(i) The  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  prepared  'Witness  Protection Scheme, 2018' in consultation with the National Legal Service Authority, Bureau  of  Police  Research  &  Development  and  the  State  Governments. This  scheme  provides  for  protection  of  witnesses  based  on  the  threat assessment. Hon'ble Supreme Court of India has endorsed the Scheme.

(ii) A common  platform for filing reports, collecting and sharing information  on  crime  and  criminal  at  national  level,  Crime  and  Criminal Tracking Networks and Systems (CCTNS) has been implemented.

(iii) To  make  the  justice  delivery  system  speedy  and  transparent,  an 'Inter-operable  Criminal  Justice  System' has been launched to integrate

## L.S.US.Q.NO.3824 FOR 16.07.2019

CCTNS with the court and prison databases, as well as with other pillars of  the  criminal  justice  system  such  as  Forensics,  Prosecution  and Juvenile homes in a phased manner.

(iv) In  order  to  facilitate  States/UTs,  an  online  analytic  tool  for  police called 'Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences' to monitor and track time-bound investigation in sexual assault cases in accordance with Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 has been launched.

(v) Cyber Crime Forensic Labs have been set up in several States, and training  has  been  given  to  over  3,664  personnel, including  410  Public Prosecutors  and  Judicial  Officers  in  identifying,  detecting  and  resolving cyber-crimes.

(vi) In order to improve investigation, steps have been taken to strengthen  DNA  analysis  units  in  Central  and  State  Forensic  Science Laboratories. This includes setting up of a State-of-the-Art DNA Analysis Unit  in  Central  Forensic  Science  Laboratory,  Chandigarh.  MHA  has  also sanctioned  setting-up  and  upgrading  of  DNA  Analysis  units  in  State Forensic Science Laboratories in 13 States/ UTs.

(vii) The Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  also  been  providing  funds  to  the State Governments for modernization of their Police Forces.

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