Pune: State govt has established 27 fast track special courts in Maharashtra, including 4 in Pune district, to conduct time-bound trials and dispose of pending cases related to sexual assault and crimes under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.According to a notification issued by the law and judiciary department on Aug 1, three courts were set up at the sessions court in Pune city. Additionally, a court commenced functioning at the sessions court in Khed in the district. Six courts were also established at the Bombay city civil and sessions courts, two in Dindoshi, and one each in Thane, Nashik, Kolhapur, and Nagpur, among other locations. Central govt issued guidelines under the National Mission for Safety of Women for setting up fast track special courts to ensure speedy disposal of cases filed under the POCSO Act. In Pune district, approximately more than 6,000 cases are pending in various courts. Legal experts and child rights activists said Maharashtra govt’s move is to address the backlog of cases related to crimes against children. Supreme Court lawyer Sana Raees Khan told TOI: “The establishment of 27 fast track special courts is certainly a step in the right direction, but we must not ignore the ground reality. Designated POCSO courts have existed for years, yet cases continue to languish for years due to systemic bottlenecks.” Aseem Shaikh
