KOCHI: The High Court has set a target for the Sessions Courts to overcome the situation where the trial of murder cases in the state is going on endlessly. The court also decided that five Sessions Courts will only try murder cases for the next one year. Two Additional Sessions Courts in Thiruvananthapuram and one Additional Sessions Court each in Kollam, Thrissur and Thalassery will be given this responsibility. District Judiciary Registrar PG Vincent of the High Court made this clear in an official instruction to the District Principal Judges. Judges' performance can also be taken into consideration by sessions courts for murder trials.

Instructions

1. Five Sessions Courts must complete the trial of five murder cases in a month

2. Principal Sessions Courts should try three murder cases in a year

3. The First Additional Sessions Courts shall try two murder cases in a month

4. Other Additional Sessions Courts should try at least 15 murder cases in a year

5. Courts of Additional Sessions may hold hearings during vacations

6. The Principal District Judges should evaluate the performance and submit a monthly report to the High Court

7. The Principal District Judge should constitute a District Level Committee comprising the Sessions Judges

8. This committee should prepare a list of murder cases to complete trial

9. This list should be given to the defense lawyers and the concerned parties including the District Superintendent of Police

10. In consultation with the Principal District Judge, cases should be found which can be completed expeditiously

Murder cases awaiting trial: 1900

One and a half decade old cases: 15

Cases up to a decade old: 100

Cases older than five years: 600