GUWAHATI: The Assam Cabinet has approved amendment to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to facilitate withdrawal of petty and minor cases. The approval was accorded in the Cabinet’s meeting on Friday, September 13.
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This amendment will allow courts to concentrate on more serious offences, as it aims to reduce the overwhelming caseload in subordinate courts. The amendment modifies Para 3 of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued in October 2022, facilitating the withdrawal of minor cases across the State.
As of March 2024, approximately 81,000 such cases have already been withdrawn.
The policy change is also expected to decongest Assam's jails by releasing under trial prisoners accused of petty offenses, thus improving the efficiency of both the judicial and prison systems.
