Bangalore:
Pratibha Srikanthmurthy, a BPO employee in Bangalore was raped and killed while on her way for night-shift duty in December 2005. The prime accused: Shivu alias Shivakumar, substitute cab driver who picked her up from home.
In July 2006, the case was referred to a fast-track court.
Four years later, the case still awaits judgment. So why are fast track courts not delivering justice fast?
"Fast-track court cases are getting slower, because more number of cases are being added to the fast track court without getting into the merit and demerits of whether that case is required to be considered at an early point of time or not," said Mohan G R, Supreme Court lawyer.
"The way it is going, judgment cannot be expected fast. Only six months back, because of campaigns in the media, the case became really fast-track. But then again, with procedures, fast track became slow-track," said Srinivasa, victim Pratibha Murthy's uncle.
Over these four years, three different judges have heard the arguments - This in a case that had no eye-witnesses and has had to rely on circumstantiary evidence and mobile telephone call records.
But examining 71 other witnesses and 218 exhibits in the case has been a challenge for a court that has a long list of criminal cases to dispose of.
Pratibha's mother has lost everything. Her whole unit of family is destroyed, she won't gain anything from this one, but what could have given solace is if the judgment was given fast. But that's not happening. Women continue to be raped, killed.