7172 corruption cases pending in courts: Govt

The central government on Wednesday informed that there are 7172 cases of corruption investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation are pending trial as on January 31, 2012 in various courts across the country.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V Narayanasamy said that on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of India, the government had decided to set up 71 additional special courts exclusively for the trial of CBI cases in different states.

The Centre has sanctioned 70 courts out of which 62 courts have started functioning. In addition, 43 special prosecutors and assistant special prosecutors and 45 technical experts have also been appointed.

Replying to a related query, the minister said that the prosecution rate in the Prevention of Corruption Act cases from 2010 up to March 31 this year was 83.3 per cent.

The CBI has disposed of 1,366 cases under PCA and 1,988 cases from investigation during this period and has filed charge-sheets in courts in 1,139 cases out of the above.

Narayanasamy also informed that the government had introduced a number of legislations in Parliament in recent times for strengthening the anti-corruption mechanism. Some of them are:

(i) The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011;

(ii) The Whistle Blowers Protection Bill, 2011;

(iii) The Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organisations Bill, 2011;

(iv) The Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of the Grievances Bill, 2011;