A staggering 4,928 minor rape cases remain unresolved in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which includes its principal seat Jabalpur and the benches of Indore and Gwalior. Among the cases, 64 minors were murdered after they had been raped. The astounding figures were revealed last month in the state assembly by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav while replying to a query from Congress MLA Bala Bachchan.
The data highlights the state’s grim reality, with nearly 50% of accused individuals—2,593 out of 5,243—currently out on bail, while 2,650 remain incarcerated.
Court Backlog and Death Sentences
Jabalpur, the High Court’s principal seat, accounts for the largest number, with 3,013 minor rape cases in Madhya Pradesh pending. This includes all 64 cases where the victim was murdered and six cases where trial courts have awarded the death penalty.
Indore Bench has 1,284 pending cases, among which 14 are rape followed by murder. There, two death penalties have been awarded by trial courts. Gwalior Bench is dealing with 631 pending cases, of which 14 are murder cases. The death sentence has been awarded to three people on this bench.
In total, trial courts have awarded 11 death sentences, but no executions have taken place so far.
Political Concerns Over Delays, Minor Rape Cases in Madhya Pradesh Rise
The Congress MLA, Bala Bachchan, had requested a detailed breakdown of the number of minor rape cases pending in the High Court and its benches along with inquiries into cases of murder and measures to accelerate the trials.
In a 132-page response, Chief Minister Yadav stated that the state government hasn’t issued directives over the last year to fasten the cases. The disturbing reality is that half the number of those who raped are out on bail as against the victim’s rape, which creates further anxieties about justice being met.
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