First fast-track court for atrocities on women inaugurated

This is the first such court in the state, where an assistant sessions judge would preside over the cases of sexual offences inviting punishment of less than ten years of imprisonment, officials said.

According to sources, as many as 27 such special courts would be set up throughout the state by February 15. By the end of the current year, these courts would have infrastructure and manpower of their own, a home department official said.

All new and pending cases of sexual assault will be transferred to these courts for trial and disposal of the matters as quickly as possible. The state government took the decision to set up these courts following widespread protests over the gang rape incident in Delhi.

According to reports, as many as 1,025 rape cases were registered in the state in 2010 and the same figure went up to 1,112 in 2011.