Kolkata Police developing Trial Monitoring App to monitor old pending cases

The Kolkata Police is on its way to develop a ‘Trial Monitoring App,’ to track the trial proceedings of the older pending cases.

According to the city police headquarters, a total of 360 old pending cases have been identified. Senior police officials are prioritising the development of the new app to help expedite these cases.

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According to police sources, the new app will contain comprehensive information regarding these pending cases. It will be accessible on the mobile phones of police station officers, investigating officers, Trial Monitoring Cell officials, senior Kolkata Police leadership, as well as public prosecutors and court officials.

All relevant information, such as the current status of each case, the number of witnesses who have testified versus those yet to be heard, the number of accused individuals in custody versus those out on bail, the number of hearings held, and the date of the next hearing, will be accessible through it.

Police sources indicate that while the process of arresting offenders following a crime is standard procedure, there is now an increased emphasis on ensuring that the guilty are actually convicted and punished.

To this end, a ‘Trial Monitoring Cell’ has been established within the Kolkata Police’s Detective Department. This cell has identified 360 older cases including matters that, despite originally falling under the jurisdiction of the State Police, have been handed over to the Kolkata Police following court orders.

Notable examples include the Park Street fire tragedy and the case involving the deaths of numerous patients in a fire at a private hospital in Dhakuria.

Many of these pending cases face hurdles owing to retirements or transfers of the investigating officers. There are also complications regarding testimony, as witnesses often fail to appear in court on time, police sources said.

Furthermore, in several instances, the framing of charges were at times stalled since some of the accused individuals fail appear in court simultaneously before the trial can commence.

Consequently, the trial process for several of these cases get either delayed or progress slowly.

The Kolkata police headquarters have created this special cell to accelerate these proceedings.

Officials from the Trial Monitoring Cell are reviewing the reasons for the slow progress by consulting investigating officers and public prosecutors.