The Delhi Police Thursday requested the Supreme Court to examine if dedicated court complexes can be established within jail premises to conduct trials in criminal gang-related offences, with charges to be framed in over 60 per cent of cases.In an affidavit filed Wednesday, Hareshwar V Swami, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Outer North district, said one of the reasons for the proposition is to reduce “opportunities for generation of reels and other social media content glamourising the criminals’ lives which are observed when gang related criminals are transported from jails to court complexes at various locations.”The Delhi Police also said there would be fewer opportunities or grounds for seeking bail on grounds of delay, better control over safety and security measures, including for witnesses and accused persons, and “timely invocation of special statutes” such as the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), the National Security Act (NSA), etc, if dedicated court complexes are set up inside jail premises.Additional Solicitor General S D Sanjay appeared on behalf of the Delhi Police during the hearing Thursday.In March this year, the apex court suggested setting up special courts to try such criminals. “… in the larger interest of society, it is imperative upon authorities to evolve a mechanism to provide a speedy and time-bound trial. One of the effective recourses could be to establish special courts to conclude trials on a day-to-day basis. A clear mandate can be fixed for such courts that, regardless of the attempts, if any, made by the defence counsel to prolong the trial, the court will proceed with it and conclude the same within the prescribed timeline,” the court said in its March 19 order.The Delhi Police, in the affidavit, said the primary reason for delays in conducting trial proceedings is the fact that presently, “the designated courts handle other routine matters such as IPC/BNS offences, EOW matters, ED cases, etc, making the courts burdened with multiple sensitive matters.”They have also attributed the delay to the fact that most of the cases registered against these gang members are under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and are being tried under Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) whereas it is the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) that includes provisions of speedy and expeditious trial, which remains unavailable “for majority of trials”.Story continues below this adThe Delhi Police have secured convictions in only 2 per cent or 3 cases of the 108 cases against criminal gang members so far, and 10 cases have resulted in acquittal or discharge. Over 80 per cent (89) of the 108 cases are currently at the stage of prosecution evidence. According to the Delhi Police, the average time taken for disposing of the 13 cases that resulted in an outcome — either conviction/acquittal/discharge — was two years after the charges were framed.In April, the Supreme Court was informed that 95 organised criminal gangs have been identified in Delhi, comprising an aggregate of 1,109 members, all of whom are presently undergoing trial proceedingsLast November, the top court expressed concern that hardened criminals commit crimes while out on bail, which is often granted on the grounds of a delay in trial. The SC’s observation had come while dealing with a bail plea by gangster Mahesh Khatri alias Bholi. While refusing him bail, the court noted that the oldest case against him, dating back to 2013, remains pending to date.INFOGRAPHPendency in trial of criminal cases against criminal gangs operating in DelhiTotal pending cases: 288Charges framed: 108 casesStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:delhiDelhi Police