R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, JUNE 22
In a significant move aimed at speeding up justice delivery in crimes against women and children, the Tamil Nadu government has informed the Madras High Court that it is preparing a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline the investigation, prosecution and trial of sexual offence cases across the state.
- Madras High Court told State is drafting a comprehensive SOP to accelerate investigation, prosecution and trial of crimes against women and children
- Expansion of DNA testing facilities and forensic infrastructure planned to eliminate bottlenecks in evidence collection
- Government seeks day-to-day trials as court presses for data on pendency, infrastructure gaps and systemic reforms
- Move aims to ensure timely justice for survivors and strengthen confidence in the criminal justice system
The proposed SOP is expected to address procedural delays and create a coordinated framework for law enforcement agencies, forensic institutions and courts, ensuring that survivors receive timely justice while strengthening the overall criminal justice system.
The submission was made by Advocate General Vijay Narayan before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan during the hearing of a writ petition filed by a 26-year-old rape survivor seeking intervention over delays in the commencement of trial proceedings in her case.
According to the Advocate General, the government has decided to accord the highest priority to strengthening infrastructure required for the expeditious disposal of sexual offence cases.
“The government has decided to accord top priority to strengthening the infrastructure required for the speedy disposal of such cases.”
Highlighting one of the major causes of delay, the Advocate General pointed out that investigations in sexual offence cases are often prolonged due to the time required to obtain forensic science reports, particularly DNA analysis reports.
He informed the court that several regional forensic science laboratories in Tamil Nadu currently lack DNA testing capabilities, resulting in delays in completing investigations and filing charge sheets.
To address this challenge, the government is planning a significant expansion of DNA testing facilities and forensic infrastructure across the state.
“The government intends to establish additional facilities and upgrade forensic infrastructure to ensure quicker processing of evidence and faster investigations.”
Legal experts note that timely forensic reports are crucial in sexual offence cases, as delays often have a cascading impact on investigations, prosecution timelines and trial commencement.
The court proceedings arose from a case in which the petitioner alleged that she was raped by two policemen in Tiruvannamalai district in September 2025.
The Advocate General informed the Bench that a single judge of the High Court had dismissed discharge petitions filed by the accused on June 4.
Following the dismissal of those petitions, the trial court framed charges against the accused on June 17, and trial proceedings are scheduled to commence on June 24.
The state also emphasised the importance of ensuring that trials in sexual offence cases are conducted on a day-to-day basis to prevent avoidable delays.
Urging judicial sensitisation, the Advocate General requested the High Court to encourage trial courts to adhere to the statutory timeline prescribed under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
“Proceedings should be completed within the two-month timeframe prescribed under Section 346(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).”
Taking note of the submissions, the Division Bench directed the Tamil Nadu government and the Registrar General of the Madras High Court to file a comprehensive report within two weeks.
The report is expected to provide detailed data on pending sexual offence cases involving women and children, the existing investigative and judicial infrastructure, and the additional resources required to ensure speedy investigation and trial.
The proposed reforms assume significance at a time when courts and governments across the country are exploring measures to reduce pendency, strengthen victim-centric justice mechanisms and improve conviction rates through scientific investigation and time-bound trials.
If implemented effectively, Tamil Nadu’s proposed SOP and forensic infrastructure expansion could emerge as a model framework for expediting justice in sexual offence cases while reinforcing public confidence in the legal system.
