History created in district courts

CHANDIGARH: High profile accused, path-breaking judgments, efforts to decrease pendency, fast-pace disposal of cases, the year 2009 was extraordinary, exciting and challenging for the legal fraternity.
The year started with the conclusion of the German rape case and ended with the decision in Ruchika molestation case, keeping judicial circles abuzz with activity.
In speedy delivery of justice which also set a precedent for others, the court awarded life imprisonment to all five accused for the gang-rape of a German tourist.
The trial was held on a day-to-day basis and the court fixed two dates wherein the victims' statement was recorded.
Likewise, a history of sorts was created when the additional district and session court concluded the trial of Promila murder case in one day.
Jaswant Singh (45) and Sunil (21) were held guilty of the gruesome murder of 17-year-old Promila in Kajheri village in 2008. The girl was five-months pregnant at the time of the incident.
Likewise, a former deputy manager of RBI was convicted for outraging the modesty of a German national. The incident had taken place in 1999. A fine of Rs 4,000 was imposed on the accused and he was sent on probation. The year also saw many famous trial cases being decided at the district courts. The infamous Nayagaon rape case was decided and five accused were acquitted after a lengthy trial which lasted for years.
Besides that, the Nikhil Joshi kidnapping case rocked the legal circles.
The court of additional district and session judge RS Attri awarded life imprisonment to Jagwinder Singh, alias Aman Verma, and Honey Sharma for kidnapping Nikhil Joshi, son of a prominent car dealer, in 2005.
Though both accused held engineering degrees, the lure of easy money attracted them to the field of crime. While holding them guilty, Judge Attri observed, "Educated persons are also indulging in nefarious activities. Though of young age, they are not entitled to leniency." Creating ripples in the legal fraternity yet again, the prosecuting agency filed the closure report in the cash-in-the-bag scam of 2008 in December this year.
Meanwhile, the debate over aborting the pregnancy of the mentally-challenged woman who was allegedly raped at Nari Niketan was settled by the apex court. After the newborn baby's DNA matched with a former employee of Ashreya, home for mentally challenged in Sector 47, the court booked him along with the other accused. Tainted IPS officer Saji Mohan was also arrested and sent in seven-day police remand. However, the case is still pending as the counsel had sought permission to prosecute the IPS officer, who was once zonal director of the NCB in Chandigarh. Meanwhile, a local court also issued summons to cricketer Harbhajan Singh and television actress Mona Singh for hurting religious sentiments during a dance performance in October 2008. However, the duo managed to get a stay from the high court.
To bring down pendency, around 80,000 cases were decided in district courts, while four Lok Adalats were organized under Samadhan 2009 and around 60,000 cases were decided.
The Chandigarh Judicial Academy was also inaugurated by CJI advocate PK Dogra. The CJI, who is also public prosecutor of UT CBI's special court, received the best prosecuting officer's award from the department. The challenging year ended with a verdict on the 19-year-old Ruchika molestation case wherein former DGP SPS Rathore was convicted for outraging the modesty of a 14-year-old tennis player in August 1990.