'Fast tracks courts not needed to check crime against women'

"Considering the fewer number of cases related to crime against women in Uttarakhand, we do not need fast track courts as of now. The existing courts are enough to deal with such cases if only their disposal is prioritised," Bahuguna told reporters at his official residence here.

The Chief Minister, who held a meeting with the Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High court Barin Ghosh yesterday, said there are only 540 pending cases of crime against women in the state which will be settled within the next six months.

"The high court based in Naninital has decided to hear cases of crime against women every Friday while the lower courts will hear such cases on a day-to-day basis to expedite the justice delivery system and ensure their disposal over the next six months," Bahuguna said.

Describing his recent visit to South Africa to woo investors as "highly rewarding", he said a delegation of entrepreneurs of Indian origin based in that country will visit Uttarakhand in April this year to explore the investment potential in the state.

"We have apprised them with the incentives being offered to entrepreneurs in the state and they are quite keen on investing here," he said.

On a question related to the emotive issue of whether Gairsain in Chamoli district should be declared as the summer capital of the state, Bahuguna evaded a direct reply.

"I prefer to think in terms of immediate goals. Our immediate goal is building a Vidhan Bhawan at Gairsain and hold at least one session of the state Assembly there. Rest of the things will be decided later.

"The Vidhan Bhawan at Gairsain and related infrastructure like a hostel for MLAs and government officials will take at least three years to be built. All the MLAs can then sit together and decide whether it is fit to be declared as the summer capital of Uttarakhand," he said.

The foundation stone of the Vidhan Bhawan at Gairsain is to be laid on January 14.

State Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal recently advocated Gairsain being made the summer capital of the state saying it will give a boost to development activities in the hill areas.

The state government's decision to build a Vidhan Bahwan at Gairsain is being seen as a deft political move to woo the development starved people in the hill regions of the state ahead of 2014 general elections.