C I V I L L I B E RT I E S 4.61 It remains essential, therefore, in the view of the Commission, that greater importance be given to the quality and commitment of those who are appointed to head these cells, and that those so appointed receive the administrative support that they need both in terms of material and personnel resources. The Cells can and do play an important role in furthering the protection of human rights in the States. The greater the reason, therefore, that their standards should, in all respects, be of the highest. The Commission thus urges all State Governments to ensure that the quality of these Cells is maintained at the highest level. The Commission remains of the opinion that the Cells constitute a vital link in the chain of institutional mechanisms to further the better protection of human rights in the country. F] Human Rights and Administration of the Criminal Justice System 4.62 The Commission has, in successive reports, made extensive recommendations aimed at reforming certain aspects of the administration of the criminal justice system in the country, so as to make it more sensitive to human rights considerations. 4.63 In its Memorandum of Action Taken on the Commission's annual report for 2000-2001, the Central Government has stated that, in order to strengthen and improve the system, a number of steps have been taken. It is thus indicated that 900 fast track courts are now functioning and 421 such courts are likely to be functional soon. The expectation is expressed that these courts will dispose of long-standing sessions cases, important criminal cases and other civil cases during the period 2000-2005. 4.64 The Commission welcomes these developments. It would, however, like to observe that an increase in the number of fast track courts will not, by itself, result in an improvement in the quality of the criminal justice system. Most conspicuously, as far as human rights are concerned, the Commission has observed, and this report has recorded specific instances elsewhere in this document, that the failure to investigate properly, compounded by the failure to prosecute diligently, and the failure to provide protection to witnesses and victims, can lead to a failure to provide fair trial. It therefore remains essential, in the view of the Commission, that a comprehensive approach be adopted in seeking to reform and revitalize the administration of the criminal justice system in the country. ANNUAL REPORT 2002-2003 ... ... 61 ... ... ..

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