Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has initiated the process for establishing 15 new POCSO courts in the state to strengthen the judicial process for child abuse cases, the state Assembly was informed on Saturday.
Sharing this information while answering a question in the House, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said steps are being taken to set up special courts exclusively for cases relating to Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO).
At the same time, the High Court is taking necessary steps to fill vacant judicial positions at the earliest, he said.
The new courts will be located in Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Berhampur, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Bhubaneswar, Baripada, Phulbani, Puri, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Malkangiri, and Subarnapur.
POCSO courts are special courts constituted under the POCSO Act, 2012, aimed at ensuring speedy trials in cases involving sexual abuse of children.
