GUWAHATI: Citing a consistent increase in successful prosecutions since taking over as Home Minister, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma voiced optimism that the state would eventually catch up to the national conviction rate of over 50%.
CM Sarma said that Assam's conviction rate had increased from a pitiful 5% to 23% after he opened the Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate (M) court building in Lakhipur, Cachar district.
“I believe we will soon touch 30%. If the current progress continues, we should reach the national average within two to three years,” Sarma added.
The Chief Minister highlighted his administration's revolutionary achievements while realising the magnitude of the task. “The situation has changed, but we were so behind that catching up with the national average is a monumental task. However, we are on the right track, and we will reach it,” he continued.
Justice Vijay Bishnoi, the chief justice of the Gauhati High Court, also attended the inaugural ceremony. CM Sarma emphasised the benefits of the new court building in his speech, stating that it would improve judicial efficiency in Lakhipur and the Barak Valley as a whole.
The setting up of a commercial court in Guwahati to handle the increasing volume of business-related issues was one of the proposals the chief minister unveiled to strengthen Assam's legal system. There is also discussion about creating a court specifically for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases.
A Directorate of Prosecution is also being established, which Sarma stated would supervise all prosecution-related administrative duties and expedite the administration of justice.
Sarma also called on legal professionals to make sure that, particularly in situations involving crimes against women and children, judicial loopholes are not used to postpone trials. He emphasised how crucial it is to administer justice promptly in order to preserve public confidence in the legal system.
The Chief Minister’s remarks underscore Assam’s commitment to overhauling its judicial framework and improving its conviction rate, aligning the state with national standards while addressing pressing legal challenges.
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