Chouhan thanks CJI for taking cognizance of rapes of minors, urges expeditious trial of such cases

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday thanked Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi for taking cognizance of cases of rapes and murders of girls.

"I thank you for taking cognizance of a sensitive issue like rape and murder of girl child. I welcome your this step from the core of my heart. The entire country is upset with such incidents," Chouhan said in a letter to the CJI.

The former Chief Minister in his letter said, "In Madhya Pradesh, there are provisions that those guilty of raping and murdering girl child (up to 12 years of age) are liable to be hanged. 27 such people have been convicted and sentenced to death. However, these sentences have not been carried out till now due to a long procedure involving High Court, Supreme Court and mercy petition before the President. So, it is not resulting in fear that it should have caused," former Chief Minister added.

He urged for speedy trial of such cases in a time-bound manner.

"It is the will of the people that people committing such heinous acts be hanged. It is hoped from you that such people will be sentenced to death soon," Chouhan said in the letter.