Bhubaneswar, July 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a major push towards strengthening legal protections for marginalised communities, the Odisha government on Wednesday officially notified the establishment of six new Exclusive Special Courts across key districts to ensure the speedy trial and effective prosecution of offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
The decision was issued by the Home Department through Notification No. 26395/HOME‑CHR‑CRTN2‑0001‑2015/CP&M after statutory consultations and recommendations from the Orissa High Court.
The state government, in an official statement, said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, it has reaffirmed its commitment to victim‑centric justice, social equity and the protection of the rights of vulnerable communities. The newly established courts will function as Courts of Additional District and Sessions Judges‑cum‑Special Courts.
They will hold exclusive jurisdiction over the revenue districts of Bhadrak, Ganjam (Berhampur), Jajpur, Kendrapara and Puri, as well as the Khurda revenue sub‑division. The initiative aims to clear backlogs and significantly reduce pendency in high‑caseload areas.
This institutional milestone is the direct result of continuous assessment and sustained administrative driving force from the State Human Rights Protection Cell (SHRPC) located at the Odisha Police Headquarters in Kataka.
Following rigorous pendency audits and persistent coordination spearheaded by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Yatindra Koyal, the SHRPC successfully identified high‑caseload regions and crafted the comprehensive proposal that ultimately secured judicial concurrence.
Following the statutory notification, the Home Department has requested the High Court of Orissa to formally appoint Additional District and Sessions Judges as Presiding Officers for these courts. Meanwhile, the government is also actively evaluating proposals for additional Exclusive Special Courts and Special Public Prosecutors in other high‑pendency districts.
Officials said the move is aimed at expediting the disposal of cases registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and reducing pendency in districts with relatively high caseloads. The Act provides for the establishment of Special Courts for the expeditious trial of offences committed against members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Source: IANS
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