Rise in rape cases; conviction rates remain stagnant

New Delhi: Though there was a rise in rape cases across the country from 2007 to 2011, the conviction rate of accused remained stagnant at 26 per cent. The number of registered rape cases rose to 24,206 in 2011 from 20,737 in 2007, an increase by 3,469, with Madhya Pradesh recording a highest number of such incidents, according to a data given by Minister of State for Home Affairs RPN Singh in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. A total of 20,737 rape cases were registered in 2007, 21,467 in 2008, 21,397 in 2009, 22,172 in 2010 and 24,206 in 2011, it said. However, 5,022 persons were convicted in 2007, 5,537 in 2008, 5,316 in 2009, 5,632 in 2010 and 5,724 in 2011, the data said. "The conviction rates of rape cases during 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 were 26.4 per cent, 26.6 per cent, 26.9 per cent, 26.6 per cent and 26.4 per cent respectively which remained steady at around 26 per cent," Singh said. The rate of conviction suffers due to several factors like inadequate and inefficient investigations by investigative agencies, deficiency of proper investigative infrastructure, prolonged judicial process etc, the minister said. Of the total number of rape cases registered in 2011, a highest of 3,406 were filed in Madhya Pradesh, 2,363 in West Bengal, 2,042 in Uttar Pradesh, 1,800 in Rajasthan, 1,701 in Maharashtra and 1,700 in Assam among others. PTI