India

Tamil Nadu Approves 26 New POCSO Courts and 4 NDPS Courts to Accelerate Justice

By PTI

The Tamil Nadu government has issued orders to establish 26 new POCSO special courts and four NDPS special courts, following directives from Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. The move aims to speed up justice for crimes against women, children and drug abuse. An official release on Sunday said the state has been implementing various initiatives to prevent such crimes, take prompt legal action against offenders and ensure timely justice for victims. During a recent review meeting on pending POCSO cases, Vijay examined case statistics, current status and the need for additional dedicated courts. He directed officials to set up dedicated POCSO courts in all districts and expedite trial proceedings. Currently, 22 special courts are operational for POCSO cases and four more are nearing operationalisation. The new orders will create 26 additional courts – 12 new and 14 additional – at a total cost of ₹46.59 crore. With the addition, Tamil Nadu will have 52 special courts across 47 police districts to handle cases under the POCSO Act, 2012, ensuring speedy trials and maximum punishment for offenders. In line with the “Drug‑Free Tamil Nadu” campaign, the state has also been working to expedite NDPS trials. The release noted that 11 NDPS special courts are currently functional. To fast‑track pending NDPS cases, the government has sanctioned new courts: one each in Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Vellore, and an additional court in Chennai. These measures are intended to facilitate the swift disposal of pending NDPS cases, strengthen judicial procedures and support the goal of a drug‑free state.