Supreme Court Probes 23-Year Delay in Dowry Death Case, Orders Nationwide Review

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The Supreme Court has taken a serious note of a 23-year delay in disposing of a dowry death case before the Rajasthan High Court. The bench, comprising justices JB Pardiwala and KV Vishwanathan, sought details from the Rajasthan High Court on the prolonged pendency of the case, which involved the death of a young woman, Deepa, in 2001. The trial proceedings were stayed for nearly two decades due to a criminal revision petition filed in 2003. The Supreme Court has directed the Registrar General of the Rajasthan High Court to provide information on how many times the revision petition was listed, whether it appeared on the cause list, and how many occasions it was not taken up for hearing despite being on the board. The Court has also ordered the Registrar Generals of all High Courts across the country to collect and furnish information regarding cases involving serious offences such as murder, rape, dowry death, and similar crimes, where trial proceedings have been stayed by higher courts and matters have remained pending for long durations. The delay in the case has raised concerns over the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. The Supreme Court has observed that indefinite stays in trials involving heinous offences weaken the system and warrant strict judicial scrutiny. The matter will now be taken up next week after receipt of records and responses. The case involved Deepa, who was married in November 2000 and died at her matrimonial home on December 31, 2001. Initial inquest and post-mortem reports recorded no visible injuries, but an FIR was registered in January 2002 alleging dowry harassment and poisoning. Charges were framed in November 2002, and a criminal revision petition filed in 2003 led to a stay of trial proceedings that lasted nearly 23 years. The Supreme Court's move is seen as a significant step towards ensuring that justice is delivered in a timely manner, particularly in cases involving serious crimes. The Court's orders are expected to bring much-needed reforms to the country's judicial system and ensure that cases like Deepa's are not delayed for years due to procedural issues.