Delhi gangrape could have been averted, says Chief Justice of India

New Delhi, Jan 2: A fast track court to try sexual offence cases against women was today inaugurated here by Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir who advocated speedy trial of the case relating to the December 16 gangrape of the 23-year-old girl.The CJI, who justified the public reaction against the ghastly incident, said the offence could have been averted had the Supreme Court guidelines on removal of tinted glasses from the vehicles been followed.“It's good to know that after the December 16 tragic incident, people have started raising their voice on crime against women,” he said while expressing the hope that the fast track court at Saket district courts complex here would be operational immediately.The CJI, however, said blame game should be avoided and the case of the paramedic, which is in the “public eye”, should be decided on fast track.“Blame game will not serve anything. We have to go to the root of the problem. This case, which is in the public eye, should be decided as early as possible,” he said.He also cautioned about the people's reaction against sending the accused for trial and calling for handing them over to the public to be dealt with by saying that it is a “dangerous reaction”.“People's reaction has been that do not send the accused to trial. Hand them over to us, we will deal with them. Hang them. But let us not get carried away.“Let us deal with the matter in a manner in which we are able to do justice as early as possible. Let us show that the judiciary is behind the common man,” he said.The CJI said a fast track court particularly for trying sexual offences against women was not only necessary but also welcome and the government has also “woken up” to the need of fast track courts for such cases. The CJI said he will try his level best with the administration to see that the other part of the case, that is the part before the matter comes to the court, is taken care of as quickly as possible.Justice Kabir said four other fast track courts would be made operational in different parts of Delhi to show “we mean business in tackling matters of such nature”.Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court D Murugesan said judicial officers have been identified for the fast track courts and wherever possible, cases will be taken up on a day-to-day basis.Apart from the CJI and the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, several judges of the high court and district courts were also present at the inauguration ceremony.