Rape trial: Delhi fast-track courts take 1.5k days, K’taka 910 | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: The trial that led to former JD(S) Prajwal Revanna’s conviction in a rape case was completed in just over 14 months — less than half the time even fast-track courts (FTCs) typically take to conclude similar cases in Karnataka, only one-third of the time taken in Delhi and just over one-fourth of the time taken in Gujarat.In Karnataka, the average duration for rape trials in FTCs is 910 days, it’s 1,562 days in Delhi and 1,716 days in Gujarat, as per law ministry data. Prajwal’s trial took only around 460 days.Across the country, FTCs show wide variations in how quickly they dispose of rape cases. Among states that reported data, Tripura recorded the longest average time —- 2,097 days per case — followed by Gujarat and Delhi.Manipur also reported a prolonged average of 1,395 days, and Jammu & Kashmir stood at 1,095 days. In contrast, states like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh showed significantly better performance, with rape trials averaging 365 days in both states. Odisha reported 439 days, Telangana 461 days, and Uttarakhand 508 days, figures closer to the intended expeditious purpose of these courts.Uttar Pradesh averaged 606.4 days per rape case, whereas Kerala, despite a high number of disposals, recorded 999 days, while Punjab and Haryana took 650 and 605 days respectively. Goa and Jharkhand averaged 730 days each, with Chandigarh marginally slower at 760 days.As per the data available, in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, and several north-eastern states, either no information on rape trial duration was furnished or it was not reported separately. Arunachal Pradesh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands did not report any operational FTCs.Against this backdrop, Prajwal’s case — the pace at which the SIT gathered evidence, secured cooperation, and moved the case to trial — appears to be a notable exception.As per the ministry, the Centre has pumped over Rs 1,000 crore into these courts since 2019 under the Nirbhaya Fund. Yet systemic delays persist. While the ministry says it has taken steps to boost judicial infrastructure, including expanding courtrooms and housing for judges, and pushing for stricter timelines under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, actual outcomes still depend heavily on state-level implementation.Several states continue to grapple with unfilled judicial vacancies, under-equipped courtrooms, and logistical hurdles like witness non-cooperation and frequent adjournments. Also, not all rape cases make it to the FTCs, which means the time taken in regular jurisdictionaly lower courts would be much longer.Another dataset for FTCs dealing with cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act reveals similarly uneven outcomes. Delhi reported the slowest average trial time at 1,717 days, followed by Manipur at 1,305 days, Nagaland at 1,185, Mizoram at 1,155, and Uttar Pradesh at 1,116.27. Tripura, West Bengal, Assam and Bihar all hovered around or above the 900-day mark, pointing to systemic delays even in child-related offences.In contrast, Puducherry emerged as the quickest, with trials averaging just 180 days. Telangana at 408 days, Madhya Pradesh at 395, and Chhattisgarh at 300 also stayed under the one-year mark. Odisha at 560 days, Punjab at 530, and Haryana at 545 showed moderate pace.Karnataka, despite its large caseload, averaged 724 days, while Kerala disposed of Pocso cases in 594 days on average, and Maharashtra took 575 days. Gujarat reported an average of 869 days.Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Meghalaya reported mid-range durations between 250 and 910 days, while states such as Arunachal Pradesh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands did not report any figures.