 Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Distinguished guests, invited delegates, dignitaries, the faculty members from the various universities and colleges, the officers of the university, the students, the learners and my dear colleagues. I, Chainika Sanapati, take this opportunity to welcome you all on behalf of Krishnakanta Omnicole State of the University to the one-day national seminar on the theme, Role of fast-track codes in delivering justice to women. This seminar has been organized by Banikantokapati Research Institute, Krishnakanta Omnicole State of the University in collaboration with the National Commission for Women, New Delhi. This national seminar will attempt to address the significance of fast-track codes in providing justice to women in India and Assam particularly. And this seminar will assist in developing a complex and subtle and comprehensive understanding of the issues that the fast-track code addresses. So before moving further, I would like to request all present here to kindly rise for the university song. Thank you so much. We are indeed privileged that Professor Omnicole Patmahonto, Honorable Advisor, Education Government of Assam, is here at MIS as a Chief Guest for the seminar. We are indeed privileged that Shreem Chauhani Kumari Kumar, former Judge, Gamati High Court is here at MIS to deliver the keynote at MIS. May I now request and invite Honorable Vice-Chancellor Krishnakanta Omnicole State of the University and the President of the seminar, Prof. Rajini Prasada, on the days and kindly occupy the chair. I would like to invite Prof. Malikopal Omnicole to kindly occupy the chair of the days. Next we look forward for the presence of Shreem Chauhani Kumari Kumar to the days. Again I would like to invite Dr. Arundhati Choudhury, the rest are of the University and Dr. Prasadjit Das, the chairperson of the seminar and the director in charge, Manikanto Kapavya Research Institute to the days and kindly occupy the seats. We would like to begin the event by paying homage to Maa Saraswati and lighting the ceremonial lamp. I take the honour of requesting our Chief Guest, Prof. Nani Gopal Mohanto, to offer tribute to Maa Saraswati and light the ceremonial lamp. Also I would like to request the dignitaries on the days kindly to accompany our Chief Guest and take part in the proceedings. It is a privilege to have amongst us as the Chief Guest for the seminar Honorable Advisor Education to Government of Assam, Prof. Nani Gopal Mohanto. He teaches political science in Guamati University and was also the head of the department in 2018-19. He is also the director of the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at Guamati University, which was established by the Government of Assam to facilitate research and people-to-people contact as part of the activities policy. His research in interest includes India's Northeast and Southeast Asia, peace and conflict resolution, human development and security, insurgency, ethnicity and identity politics. He did his MA from JNU, New Delhi and PhD from Guamati University. He was also a Rotary World Peace Fellow at the University of California Berkeley from 2002-2004, where he completed Masters in Peace Conflict Resolution and Policy Studies. Prof. Mohanto was a visiting fellow at the Peace Research Institute Oslo and Manohar Parikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analysis. He has an illustrious list of publications. His most recent book, Citizenship Debate over NRC and CAA Assam and the Politics of History, is an important contribution in understanding the complex question of identity and citizenship in Assam. Besides academics, Prof. Mohanto is also deeply involved in policy making. Among his several such engagements, the most recent one is being a member of the State Innovation and Transformation IOCITA Assam during 2016-2021. I welcome you, sir. I request our Honourable Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rajendra Prasad Das, to offer the felicitation to our esteemed chief guest with a Phulam Ramosa and a bouquet on behalf of the University. For this, I would like to request Dr. Shmiti Chikha Choudhury to assist Honourable Vice Chancellor, sir. Again, we are honoured and it's a privilege to have amongst us Honourable Retired Judge of Ganghati High Court Shri Muti Rumi Kumari Phukon as the keynote speaker for today's seminar. She has a very distinguished career for over three decades in legal services. She enrolled herself in the Baal Council of Assam in the year 1987 and started her career at Jorahat District Court. In 1980, she joined Assam Judicial Services and has worked in various capacities like Chief Judicial Magistrate, Session Judge, Principal Judge, Registrar Judicial, Registrar Administration and Registrar General of Ganghati High Court. She was elevated to the Bench of Additional Judge at Ganghati High Court in the year 2015 and subsequently elevated as Permanent Judge in the year 2019. She has retired just last June after her illustrious legal career. I welcome you ma'am. Again, I would like to request our Honourable Vice Chancellor to felicitate the esteemed keynote speaker Shri Muti Rumi Kumari Phukon with a full-on gamosa and a bouquet on behalf of the university. I would like to request Dr. Irani Lekha to assist our Honourable Vice Chancellor, sir. We would also like to take this opportunity to felicitate our Honourable Vice Chancellor, Professor Rajendra Prasad Das, who has very recently joined our university. He has got vast teaching and administrative experience and we are very fortunate to have him to guide us to scale near our heights. Before joining our university, he was the Senior Most Pro Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University. Prior to that, he was the Vice Chancellor of Birhampur University, Birhampur Odisha from the year 2016-2019. He has stopped for more than three decades in a number of premier institutions in the country, starting from XLRI, Jamshedpur, Jivaji University, Bikram University in Chen and Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University, Raipur. He has been a visiting faculty to IIM Raipur and several other leading business schools of the country. He held various administrative responsibilities in these institutions besides his academic duties. He also acted as a member and chairperson in various teams' committees constituted by AICTB, NAACNAC and UGC. He has got a rich list of publications, which includes five books, about 100 research papers published in highly acclaimed journals. We feel really, very proud and privileged to have him as the Vice Chancellor of our university and I request our register, Dr. Orujjati Choudhury to kindly felicitate him with a full Aam Dham Husa and a bouquet on our Bala behalf. For this, I would like to request Dr. Orujjati Choudhury to assist the register. I would like to request Dr. Prasenjit Das, the chairperson of the seminar, to felicitate the race star of the university, Dr. Orujjati Choudhury, who is also an eminent academician of the state with a full Aam Dham Husa and a bouquet. I would like to request Dr. Indra Nideka to assist the chairperson of the seminar. I would like to request Dr. Kanda Chopraborty, the assistant race star of the university, to felicitate the chairperson of the seminar and the director in charge, Banikanto Kapote Research Institute with a full Aam Dham Husa. I would like to request Dr. Prasenjit Das, the chairperson of the seminar and the director in charge, Banikanto Kapote Research Institute of this university, to extend the welcome address to this audience. Honorable Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Rajendra Prasad Das, Honorable Education Advisor to the Government of Assam and the Chief Guest of today's national seminar, Prof. Nani Gopal Mahantop, keynote speaker Simoti Rumi Kumarikupan, invited distinguished speakers of various technical sessions, registered after oral delivery, directors of various schools, officers, faculty members, research scholars, learners of the university, invited guests, media persons, ladies and gentlemen and everyone present here today. A very good morning to all of you. First of all, I welcome you all to this one-day national seminar on rule of fast-track courts in delivering justice to women. And we are thankful to National Commission for Women New Delhi for sponsoring this seminar. I am happy to inform the gathering that the National Commission for Women have also sponsored a national seminar on gender sensitization in India. The largest issues and challenges that was held in 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit India and the world. The Panigadu Capote Research Institute was established in the year 2016, with the objective to undertake research activities on the problems and processes of social transformations and economic and human development in the state of Assam and the Northeastern region. It was formed the purpose of contributing to the formulation of strategic programs for integrated regional developments. Some of the important activities of BKRI in recent years include annual Panigadu Capote Memorial Lecture that is held on 15 November each year, roundtable discussion on the alternative paradigms of living with flood and soil erosion that was held in 2018, areas studies program that was initiated with the first visit to Bhutan in the year 2018 under the minor research project on Bhutan that was entitled Bhutan in Transition, a Decade of Experiments with Democracy. 10-day research methodology course in social sciences in collaboration with Indian Council of Social Science Research talked on Gandhism in International Perspective by Professor Sudarsan Iyengar on Gandhism in International Perspective that was held in 2018. As research and development is an important dimension of a university's academic pursuits, there is an urgent need to redefine the role of the KRI in view of the changing social and academic context following the COVID-19 pandemic and the release of the new education policy 2020. Besides, academic collaboration and networking with regional, national and international institutions and organizations has been seen as one of the prime objectives of quality enhancement and two-day debate, BKRI will try to play a leading role in the days ahead. This national seminar is part of the collaborative endeavor of BKRI and NCW New Delhi and it will address a very pertinent issue that is women's access to justice or women's limited access to justice and the role of the judiciary in that direction. Available records imply that the lack of justice reflects women's experience of being disadvantaged, exclusion, discrimination and violence. Besides, gender-specific barriers such as biases in the justice institutions, social stigma, psychological trauma, etc. while claiming justice, the lack of gender-sensitive procedures, violence against women, etc. prevent women from utilizing the available pathways to seek justice and to realize their full potential as well as rights. Therefore, the need of the power is to have a people-centered and gender-responsive justice approach to create an enabling environment where women can seek remedies without fear of negative consequences and rejection and also realize their rights through timely access to justice. Women's limited access to justice can often be considered a complex social phenomenon that indicates a series of inequalities at the legal, institutional, structural, socio-economic and cultural levels. Today's seminar will provide a common platform for various stakeholders belonging to fields such as the police department, the judiciary and organizations and agencies working for the cause of women which together constitute a justice chain and women's economic prosperity, bodily integrity, voice and agency can never be protected if any one of them does not function well. That is why perhaps we often say that justice delay is justice denied. As the concept of access to justice covers contact with inquiry entry to and use of the legal systems, I am happy to inform that we have systematically arranged the various technical sessions and accordingly invited distinguished speakers belonging to Guwahati High Court, Asan Police and organizations like North East Network and Women in Governance in India. I am sure the speeches to be delivered in the inaugural and very victory sessions, inaugural session will set the tune of the seminar and all the participants will have sufficient idea of the proceedings of the day-long seminar. I am hopeful that the deliberations to be made by the distinguished speakers of the different technical sessions will lead to a fruitful and meaningful discussion and interactions on the role of the judiciary in answering justice to women. With that expectation, I would like to wind up my short speech here. Thank you for your patient hearing and see you again. Thank you. May I now take this opportunity to invite the chief guest for today's seminar, Prof. Anikur Balanahanta, to address the audience with his words of wisdom, knowledge and experience. Honourable Vice-Centurer, Prof. Rajendra Prasadgast, Honourable Ma'am, Retired Jazz, Rumi Kumari Phukam, Register of KKH, Krishnakanta Handik, State Public University, Prof. Dr. Ujiti Choudhury sir, Dr. Prasadgit Das, Director of today's seminar, Dave Participants, Paper Presenters and Ladies and Gentlemen. At the very outset, I would like to express my deep sense of gratitude and thanks to the organiser for having given me this opportunity to speak a few words on the role of fast-track courts in delivering justice to women. Well, I am not an expert on this particular issue. I am a student of Political Science, and I am engaged with recently another policy-making issue of the Government of Assam, and as such I am away from research-oriented activities of social science in general and political science in particular. Nevertheless, and I see here presence of the Galaxy of Intellectuals here who are ex-part in this particular domain, but nevertheless, since I have been asked to give my presentation, it's not necessarily an expert's viewpoint, but general observation as a student of Political Science, a more cursory look rather. Well, the question arises. Already we have been distributed a copy on crime against women, particularly in the state of Assam, which remains a critical factor in the sociopolitical fabric of the state, particularly a state which is known for very elevated position of women. Why the state for last maybe 8, 9, 10 years, that there is a marked increase in crime against women, that is the issue to be pondered particularly, as has been already stated in the statement. In three areas, domestic violence, kidnapping and molestation, particularly from 2016 to 2019, there is a very sharp rise. In fact, our crime against women is higher than the national average, and it has been stated. I would just like to give a few statistics to put the issue in perspective. For example, in small cell violence, more than 6.5% increased in 2019 and 2020, 80% young women reported sexual violence, which had increased of 3.2% from 2015 to 2016. So therefore, various data, as stated by National Family Health Survey, particularly 4 and 5, and the transformation from 4 to 5, we find a big rise in the various graphic indications of crime against women. And the proportion of wives who have reported violence by husbands increased from 24.5% to 32%. The number of women is between 18 and 29 years, who reported sexual violence increased to 8%, which is up from 5.8% of National Family Health data of 4. Now, more real women in Assam reported spousal violence around 32.9% than urban women, which is straight to 6.6%. So, the data are in front of us, which is already distributed. After having gone through all this data, published by NFHS, NCRB and Assam Police, particularly I am relying more on Assam Police data. I have tried to collect them for last 10-15 days and I have, you know, my presentation is based on the data given by Assam Police. So, a few questions come to my mind. What are those questions? Number one, is it an increase in crime or an increase in reporting? Number one, whether such crime against women is its real or urban-engaged nature? Thirdly, what is the nature of occurrence of such crimes against women? Is it essentially in the public domain or private domain? Fourth, whether crime against women is a general phenomenon or specific to certain areas, community groups, etc. Fifth, is there a common pattern? What are the most vulnerable districts that require urgent attention? And sixth, why is there a huge discrepancy of cases reported, report submitted, charged seated and conviction? Why there is a huge discrepancy? As I look at it, crime against women in Assam defies all those categorizations. Did the increasing women empowerment women now hardly hesitate to report crime against them? However, experts argue that these cases, be it rural or urban areas, do not necessarily reflect the actual picture. Many cases still remain unreported and unregistered. Various factors may trigger for underreporting. The dependence of rural women on their spouses may act as a factor for not getting the actual picture. In urban areas, although the number of violence against women are increasing, including the fire and reporting are also increasing, nevertheless the link between reporting, the charge and conviction is very, very thin. Patriarchal norms, family values, tradition, fear of being heteroised if husband is punished, insecurity, etc. may act as factor. All the some writings have identified seven districts of Assam, Dhugri, Jurhat, Hailakandi, Sipsagar, Borpeta, Bangaygaon and Bhujai, districts with higher crime rate than the state average. However, such categorisation does not necessarily reflect certain other issues. My argument is that we need to dissect certain data in order to get a conflict picture. For example, when I say there is a huge discrepancy between cases, reporting and conviction, for example, can you give the data sequence? If you look at this report, you will find that this is Assam police data from year 2021, that there is a huge discrepancy between cases reported and the conviction even searched. However, it is said that the kidnapping cases or the abduction cases are very high because there is an elopement and it is argued that about 33% of Assam's marriage takes place below the age of 18 or 19. Therefore, in many cases boys and girls get married or get married by secrecy. Elopement is the main factor for such abduction and family immediately complains about abduction or kidnapping. Although sometimes they are regularly, the relationship is being accepted by the family members, so it does not necessarily suggest that they are kidnapping or they are abducted. Nevertheless, the record is not taken out from the police department. Even then, we find that there is a huge discrepancy between the cases reported, reports submitted and ultimately the rate of conviction. Here I am trying to look at what are the districts that are vulnerable for these kinds of crimes like dowry dates, next cruelty by husband, kidnapping and abduction, human trafficking and rape. If you look at, for example in dowry dates, there are cases of 156 in 2019 and Kathar Dharam Borbeta, these districts are very high in terms of dowry dates. Then, cruelty by husband I have looked at, the dowry is the top most with 5,230 cases in the year 2019. The second is Nogao with 972 cases and Guwahati is third with 878 cases. Now, it is the responsibility of the researcher, why this variation? Why Guwahati is becoming the epicenter of violence against women of various nature? Well, this is not my domain, I appeal to the paper presenters and to the researchers to look into the case of Guwahati more particularly. Then, coming to kidnapping and abduction, we see that these districts like Borbeta, next Borbeta, Kathar, Dharam, Dhuburi, Gulaghan, Guwahati city, again Guwahati city, Kamru, Nogao are the main areas and in this category of kidnapping and abduction, Nogao is the top most with 620 cases, second is Guwahati city, third is Dhuburi with 449. Then, I have listed some cases of human trafficking which perhaps require separate attention. Then, coming to rape, next slide please. Coming to rape, again you will see these other districts, those are having most of the incidents of rape cases. Then the last slide please, last slide. So, this is the general, those districts which are having a high rate of crime against women, in totality I am talking about, in totality the cases of crime against women. When I have dissected these data, I have found out that there are 4 districts which need our special attention. What are those 4 districts that require our kind of cluster approach that I would like to propagate. First is Borbeta, Borbeta is very high in dowry dates, kidnapping and abduction, human trafficking, rape and it also is very high in total crimes against women, that's the number 1 Borbeta. Second is Doram, where the cases of dowry dates, cruelty by husband, kidnapping and abduction, rape and high in total crimes. Then third is Dhuburi, cruelty in husband, then kidnapping and abduction, rape and it is the highest history where you have the highest number of crimes against women, that is 2787, perhaps in the year 2019, here I remember correctly, 2019. Now, then Guwahati city, then Guwahati city, it is high in cruelty by husband, kidnapping and abduction and total crime cases. These are some of the statistics for you to reflect upon to have a look at. Now, how do we infer from this data? My argument is this, the above statistics defy R1 rural divide. The magnitude may vary in certain areas, but the crime occurrences go beyond rural R1 divide, although it is suggested that in rural areas the occurrence is higher. Secondly, there is a tendency to depict upper Assam areas as more progressive. The above statistics however contradict that statement. In fact, in certain areas like Hibahagar, Jurhar, Gulagha, the report is abysmal. It also proves that literacy alone does not necessarily act as the only factor for less crime against women. Thirdly, it looks like of course it needs to be probed upon and it looks to be looked into is that in all the above parameters like murder, dowry, dates, cruelty by husband, kidnapping, abduction, human trafficking, rape and total cases of crime against women. The trial districts, if we may say so, like Anse Hill's Cardianglam, BTAD areas do not occur much those cases except in film areas. However, this is my observation and it needs to be further looked into why in certain areas the crimes occur more and in certain areas there is less occurrence of crime against women. On the basis of statistics that we have. So on the basis of next place, on the basis of the total next, the ABC data. Sumina? Yes sir, this one sir. This one sir? Yes sir. I have tabulated it. Okay, take it. It's topic now. Yes. On the basis of total cases that we have in some today, in terms of total cases of crime against women in 2029, districts may be divided into three categories. The first is those districts evoke 2000, like those districts where crime against women is evoke 2000. These are Dhruvdi, 2787, Borbeta, 2296 cases, Nogaum, 2148 and Quahati city, 2143. That is the most crime from districts. Secondly, total cases of crime from 1000 to 2000. Here I will put Kamruv, Dharam, Gujai, Morigam, Kachar, Jorha and Sipsa districts. That is category B. Then C category cases are from 500 to 1000 cases. These are Sunitpur, Haydakanthi, Goladha, Baksha. So what I would like to argue that we need a more segregated approach and to look into those districts more minutely. Why there are more violence against women in certain districts relatively not in other districts. But having said I do not want to minimize the occurrence of crime against women in other districts as well. Now coming to the role of fast track courts, right to speedy trial remains a vital fundamental right under Article 21. The Delhi High Court has held that speedy trial from an intrinsic, it constitutes an intrinsic part of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and the denial of the same may be ground for the pain in certain circumstances. Why fast court tracks court? We need those practices because the tendency of cases in district and subordinate courts increased from 26 million in 2018 to 31.7 million. In January 2020 an increase of 21% cases according to a standing committee report from March 2020. As all of us know the Eleventh Finance Commission recommended a scheme for creation of 1734 fast track courts in India. And the question is how effective these fast track courts are. That is the crux of the question. Now my observation on the basis of a few cases as handled by the fast track courts, my observation is essentially triple. Number one, trials in fast track court generally last longer so the question occurs does it take longer time than the general courts. Secondly, fast in later but not in speedy. It looks like the fast court tracks are fast in later but not in speedy. Thirdly, sweet and quick justice perhaps still remains an elusive construct. Nearly 81% of 26,965 cases completed by fast track courts in 2019 took anywhere between 1 to 10 years for the trial to be completed according to National Crime Records Bureau data. Further 69% of 17,155 cases disposed of by the protection of children from sexual offenses, fast track courts in 2019 took between 1 to 10 years the data suggests. This is despite the fact that POXO Act 2012 specifies that the special courts must complete trial as far as possible within one year from the date of taking cognizance of the offense. Now the million dollar question is even after 20 years of existence the question occur why do India's fast court tracks remain sluggish defeating the very purpose of their institution. This required dribbard investigation, lack of physical infrastructure, finance sort of dedicated judicial officials and clear mandates perhaps are a few factors for such slow in delivering justice. Now coming to the question of Assam as I have looked into, originally and I am told 27 courts were allocated for Assam out of these 10 POXO courts are permanently manned by different judicial officers. In addition to that Guwahati High Court Governor of Assam has notified certain intra-judicial institution, intra-judicial institution and I have counted there are five such intra-judicial institutions constituted by Guwahati High Court on 11-4 2018. In 11-4 2018 High Court established a few designated courts of session judge where there is no additional court of judge as fast track court to try the cases of rape, murder, rape and murder of women and children on a day to day basis in eight districts. Then secondly, 14 additional session judge courts were designated as advocacy that is fast track court to try this rape, murder and rape and murder of women and children on a day to day basis. Thirdly, four additional second judge courts were designated as advocacy to try into these cases. Thus, 26 session courts have been designated as courts to look into these issues on a day to day basis. Fifthly, 19 courts were designated as special courts under section 28 of the protection of children from sexual offences act 2012. In addition, apart from these institutions, in a revised order on 2 January 2020, 16 districts and session courts are already designated as special courts under section 28 of the protection of children from sexual offences act 2012 has been declared as courts exclusively with cases under POXO Act only. Now, my conclusion is that we need to go beyond fast track court. We need to have a more as has already been illustrated by the previous speaker who talked about the structural issues, the sociological issues, the psychological issues, the counseling issues. These are equally important along with an institutional approach. Of course, those cases need to be tried on a fast track basis. There is not an IO doubt. But what I argue is to go beyond fast track court and look and address into the structural, sociological and other issues that come from such a scenario in our state. Particularly, not his network, the representative is here, Anurita is there. Pulva Bharati Educational Trust, women in governance, the women leaders in training center and doctor, they talk about the, they have already categorized various crimes against women and they have published a manifesto whereby they have argued for strengthening the panchayatira system, safety committee and panchayats in the district and state level. I think this is a wonderful suggestion and they have also argued for strengthening various acts like an effective implementation of protection of women from domestic violence, the asam witch hunting, prohibition prevention and protection act and others which are indeed would be, would go a long way in structurally resolving these issues. However, I would argue to develop more of a cluster approach and particularly after looking into those cases, I would say rather than treating them genetically, we also need to look into in a more cluster manner, particularly in districts like Borbeta, Thuguri, Dorong, Ganghati city perhaps require arson attention along with others. And on the government side, I shall try my best to sensitize our policy makers on these very important issues with these issues and my observation I conclude. Thank you.