In Mumbai, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's pledge to expedite the Baba Siddique murder case has received a mixed response from legal experts. Some, like senior counsel Amit Desai, believe accelerating investigations into high-profile murders can have a positive impact. However, others caution against rushing the process, warning against compromising the quality of justice. While a swift trial in a dedicated fast-track court may alleviate concerns about law and order following the crime, several lawyers emphasize the importance of a thorough police investigation to uncover the masterminds behind the violent incident. Once a chargesheet is filed, consideration may be given to transfer the case to a fast-track court, of which there were 866 as of May 2024, specializing in grave offenses such as homicides, sexual crimes, and crimes against vulnerable groups. However, some legal experts have pointed out that the effectiveness of fast-track courts in the past has been hindered by factors like limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and suboptimal investigations. Majeed Memon, a seasoned criminal law advocate who recently joined NCP (Sharad Pawar), expressed perplexity over the circumstances surrounding Siddique's "brutal assassination in front of a large crowd," particularly questioning the response of his security detail. Memon stressed the importance of a careful and diligent investigation in such a heinous crime, highlighting the need for building a strong case against the culprits to ensure justice for the victim and his family.According to veteran crime counsel Niteen Pradhan, punitive measures by Chief Minister and Home Minister will not be effective. He emphasized the importance of expediting murder cases while ensuring a thorough and credible investigation to restore public confidence. The new criminal procedural code, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), mandates that the police must complete their investigation and file charges within 90 days to address past inefficiencies. Maharashtra currently has 36.5 lakh pending criminal cases, of which 60% are over a year old. Despite the staggering number of new criminal cases filed in the state each month, a significant number are also being resolved within the same timeframe, as per the National Judicial Data Grid. In Mumbai, the sessions court is grappling with 41,530 pending criminal cases. The data also reveals that last month, 1,548 serious criminal cases were brought before the sessions court, with 948 being resolved. The information available does not specify separate data for Fast Track Courts (FTCs).