In Brief

Following the Nirbhaya incident and subsequent criminal law amendments of 2013 and 2018, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance to assess implementation of rape and sexual offence provisions across India's criminal justice system. Despite legislative reforms, statistics showed negligible improvement and trials faced persistent delays. The Court issued comprehensive directions seeking detailed status reports from all stakeholders—police departments, medical institutions, forensic labs, courts, and legal aid agencies—on compliance with provisions governing FIR registration, victim recording, medical examination protocols, investigation timelines, trial conduct, witness protection, and victim compensation. The Court appointed an Amicus Curiae to collate information and recommend measures for a more effective and responsive criminal justice system."

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