These figures were disclosed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav in the state assembly last month, in response to a question from Congress MLA Bala Bachchan.
Madhya Pradesh: Around 4,928 cases of minor rape are currently pending in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, including at its principal seat in Jabalpur, as well as the Indore and Gwalior benches. Among these, 64 are particularly disturbing, involving victims who were murdered following the rape.
These figures were disclosed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav in the state assembly last month, in response to a question from Congress MLA Bala Bachchan.
Earlier, In December 2017, Madhya Pradesh became the first state in India to pass a Bill mandating the death penalty for those convicted of raping girls aged 12 or younger. The Bill stipulates a minimum punishment of 14 years of rigorous imprisonment or a life sentence until death. In cases of gang rape involving girls aged 12 or below, the punishment could extend to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The Bill was introduced in response to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, which revealed that Madhya Pradesh had the highest number of rape cases in the country in 2016.
The data highlights the severity of the issue, with nearly half of the accused in these cases—2,593 out of 5,243—currently out on bail, while 2,650 remain in custody.
At the Jabalpur Principal Seat, 3,013 cases are pending, including 64 involving murder after rape. Six of these cases have resulted in death sentences by trial courts.
The Indore Bench has 1,284 pending cases, with 14 involving murder after rape. Two death sentences have been handed down in these cases.
The Gwalior Bench has 631 cases pending, including 14 involving rape-murder, with three death sentences issued by trial courts.
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Despite 11 death sentences being imposed by trial courts in cases of minor rape, no executions have been carried out.
Congress MLA Bala Bachchan had requested detailed information on the number of pending cases of minor rape in the Jabalpur High Court and its Indore and Gwalior benches, as well as data on cases involving rape-murder and any measures taken for fast-tracking trials.
In his 132-page response, Chief Minister Yadav provided a thorough breakdown of the cases but confirmed that neither the state government nor his office had issued any directives in the past year to expedite these proceedings.
He further noted that 50% of the accused in minor rape cases are currently out on bail.
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