CJI Altamas Kabir constituted Special Bench to Hear Crimes against Women

Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir on 10 January 2013 set up a Special Bench of Justices of A.K. Patnaik and Gyan Sudha Misra to hear cases of crime against women.

The Bench is going to start its hearing from 14 January2013 onwards and already a total of 526 cases relating to rape, dowry and other sexual offences from year 2002 had been listed before the Bench which is anticipated to take up the matters on day-to-day basis.

As per the circular posted on the Supreme Court website, cases of accused languishing in jails will be given priority and will be taken up first.

In the circular issued on 9 January 2013 the items were categorised as 19 items in the order of following priority:

I. Death cases
II. matters relating to sexual harassment
III  kidnapping and abduction
IV. matters relating to harassment of SC/ST/OBC and women
V. matters relating to harassment
VI. cruelty to women for dowry, dowry death
VII. eve-teasing
VIII. domestic violence etc
IX. prevention of corruption matters
X. other criminal matters in which accused are in jail
XI. group matters (five onwards)
XII. three judges bench matters
XIII. appeals filed against acquittals
XIV. elections matters of Parliament and Assembly constituencies
XV. specially directed and adjourned matters
XVI. out of job matters
XVII. senior citizens matters
XVIII. matrimonial cases; old cases
XIX. matters which are to be listed after the disposal of a particular matter