The CCTNS project, after extension, is expected to be fully operational by March 2017. The CCTNS project, after extension, is expected to be fully operational by March 2017.

The Ministry of Home Affairs plans to create a database on which citizens across the country can access a list of chargesheeted sex offenders.

The service — similar to the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOP) service provided by the US Justice Department — is being planned as an extension of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) project.

In a special feature on the eve of Independence Day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh wrote, “Steps are afoot to extend this project by another two years so that the remaining components viz, a Central Citizen Portal and a central database are developed which will provide useful services to the citizens speedily.”

Besides “publication of a list of chargesheeted offenders in cases pertaining to crime against women”, the minister wrote that the intended services include reporting of crime, passport verification, other kinds of police verification, accessing victim compensation funds, accessing legal services, human trafficking and missing persons, list of wanted or most wanted criminals, publication of a list of proclaimed offenders.

According to Singh, the extended project also proposes to integrate with e-courts and e-prison applications to improve efficiency of the criminal justice system. The CCTNS project, after extension, is expected to be fully operational by March 2017.

In the US, using the NSOP website, the public has access to information regarding the presence or location of offenders who, in most cases, have been convicted of sexually violent offences against adults and children and certain sexual contact and other crimes against victims who are minors. Citizens can use the website to educate themselves about the presence of such offenders in their local communities.

The MHA launched CCTNS in 2009 with an outlay of Rs 2,000 crore. Approximately 71 per cent — more than 10,000 police stations in the country — have started using the software developed under CCTNS for registration of FIRs. Internet connections using Virtual Private Network (VPN) have been provided to 80 per cent police stations, according to the MHA.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App.