Odisha to establish 15 more special courts for POCSO case adjudication

The Odisha Government has decided to establish 15 more special Courts for expeditious trial of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act cases pertaining sexual assault of minor children.

The Government is initiating prompt steps for the setting up of new POCSO courts. The state government will submit a proposal to the High Level Committee in the next fiscal year to open these courts, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan told the State Assembly on Saturday.

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Besides, the government has taken due note of the recommendation of Orissa High Court for opening of new Civil Judge(Junior Division)-cum-Judicial Magistrate First Class courts in different blocks of the State.

Orissa High Court has also sought for the establishment of Additional District & Sessions Judge in Khandapada of Nayagarh district and the government is also taking steps in this regard. Steps are also being taken for the filling up of posts of judges, the Minister added.

The Section 28 (1) of the POCSO Act 2012 specifies the establishment of an exclusive court in every district to adjudicate sexual offences against minors. However the State does not have POCSO courts in every district, observed rights activist Biswapriya Kanungo.