Form special cell to trace absconding accused: HC to Maha govt

Expressing concern over a large number of accused absconding during the pendency of trials, the Bombay High Court today suggested Maharashtra government to set up a special cell to trace and put them in jails.

A bench headed by Justice P V Hardas also asked the state to inform on the next occasion what steps had been taken to trace such absconding undertrials.

The court was hearing a suo motu PIL alleging inaction on the part of government in tracing the absconding accused.

The state government informed that 9,207 such persons had absconded or were reported missing. Of these, 863 were traced in Mumbai alone, while 2,632 others were arrested elsewhere in the state.

Additional government pleader Ajay Gadkari informed that a proposal was under the active consideration of the central government to create a data system of such absconders so that information about them can be accessed by any court from any part of the country.

The state had informed on last occasion that it had decided to collect personal details of every accused, such as ration card, Aadhaar card, passport, voter identity card, finger prints, bank accounts and employment details.

If an accused absconded, steps were taken to trace him with the help of details mentioned in his file, besides publishing his photograph in newspapers. Besides, all police stations in Maharashtra had been asked to collect personal details of all the accused, the Government pleader said.

The court has appointed lawyer J Shekhar as an amicus curiae (friend of the court). He has been asked to verify whether the government was implementing the high court orders.