Fast-Track Justice: 52 POCSO Courts Across Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is accelerating its response to crimes against children and women with a major expansion of specialised courts. The state government has approved the creation of 26 new special courts to handle POCSO cases, a move aimed at clearing the growing backlog and delivering faster verdicts.

At a review meeting focused on pending POCSO cases statewide, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay asked for a full briefing on case details, their current stage, and the number of additional courts needed to exclusively hear cases filed under the POCSO Act.

The Chief Minister then issued directions to speed up trials, ensure offenders are punished in accordance with the law, and set up POCSO courts in all districts through immediate action.

Currently, 22 special courts are hearing cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and four more are about to begin work. Keeping the number of pending cases in view, the government has issued an order to set up 26 new special courts, comprising 12 new courts and 14 additional courts, at an estimated cost of Rs 46.59 crore.

Once these courts are in place, 52 special courts will be functioning across the 47 police districts of Tamil Nadu. The authorities expect this to bring quicker justice to victims and tougher punishments for offenders, which in turn should help prevent such crimes from recurring.

The drug control agenda is moving in parallel. Under the 'Nasha-Mukt Tamil Nadu' campaign, the state is working to rein in drug trafficking and use. Cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act are being prioritised for disposal within the framework of legal procedure.

At present, 11 special courts handle NDPS cases in Tamil Nadu. To resolve the pending matters under this law at the earliest, the Chief Minister has directed the state government to establish four more special courts. These will be located in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Vellore, with one additional court in Chennai. The government says these steps will support faster case resolution, strengthen the judicial system, and advance its goal of a Nasha-Mukt Tamil Nadu.