Fast track trial against politicos in heinous crime cases: Kamal Nath

Campaigning for tougher laws to check crimes against women, Union Minister Kamal Nath on Monday favoured setting up of fast track courts to try politicians charged with heinous crimes.

Nath, who is Parliamentary Affairs Minister, also said the amendments to the anti-rape laws will "take precedence over everything else" during the next session of Parliament.

"I feel that there should be fast track courts to try cases of heinous crimes against politicians like rape and murder so that a judicial verdict is possible in six months," he said.

Amendments should be made in laws to facilitate such a provision, he said.

Nath, a senior Congress leader with over three decades in Parliament, sought unanimity on the move as it would help give time-bound punishment to those guilty and clear the air for those who are innocent.

"All political parties should reach a consensus on the issue which is not related to any party or politician," he said.

The fast track courts should cover all MPs and MLAs and former MPs and MLAs as also corporators in the Municipal Corporations, he said.

Nath said such a move would help stop denigration of Parliamentary democracy at a time when politicians were being shown in a negative light.

"People should look up to the politician, not look down upon him. Some undesirable elements could not be given the licence to bring into disrepute the entire parliamentary democracy," he said suggesting that his proposal would weed out the black sheep.

His plea has come at a time when the Opposition parties including the BJP and Left have turned pro-active in the wake of the Delhi gangrape incident and have been pressing for a special session of Parliament to deliberate on tougher laws to check crimes against women.

With the Budget session due to start next month in the normal course, Nath brushed aside the Opposition demand for an immediate session. The Budget session generally starts in the third week of February.

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