IPS Dheeraj Kunubilli launches court case monitoring system to cut criminal trial delays in Annamayya, AP

To reduce delays in criminal trials, IPS Dheeraj Kunubilli, a 2020 batch officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre and currently posted as Superintendent of Police, Annamayya has introduced a structured Court Monitoring System to track and speed up pending criminal cases.The initiative aims to bring all trial-stage cases onto a single platform allowing police units to monitor progress,identify problems and ensure timely coordination.

The system compiles stage-wise data for every case and generates a daily case calendar of all the cases up for trial on a specific day.This centralised tracking system allows officers to know in advance which cases are listed and where follow-up is required.

Recognizing the stages at which cases got stuck and adjourned repeatedly- witness examination and appearance of the accused. Police officers are now reviewing listed cases daily and trying to ensure that everyone necessary for the case is present on time. This process increases the chances of conviction and reduces delays often leading to acquittal. “ Nearly 80 percent of cases tend to stall at these stages. By prioritising production of witnesses and accused within the first few adjournments, the district police aims to potentially reduce trial timelines by more than 50-60 percent”

The system also tracks witness depositions quality to understand how cases are progressing. Witnesses are broadly observed and categorised as supportive, neutral or hostile, helping officers to calculate the probability of conviction for each and every case. “This helps track high probability cases and identify reasons for low-probability cases, such as hostile witnesses, procedural issues or possible collusion.” He shared

Additionally officials are now also noting instances where trials are not moving forward despite cases being listed and then are being subsequently discussed at the district level to improve coordination.

With the initiative still evolving, IPS Dheeraj Kunubilli focus remains on improving coordination and ensuring timely justice ,so that cases do not remain pending due to procedural gaps.