CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu will set up 17 Special Courts for exclusive trial of cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, besides creating courts for cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Law Minister R Nirmalkumar announced in the Assembly on Friday (August 21).
Replying to a debate on the demand for grants, Nirmalkumar said three POCSO courts would be established in Ariyalur, Perambalur and Pudukkottai districts. Fourteen would be constituted in districts with a pendency of POCSO cases.
The 14 courts would be established in Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Erode, Kallakurichi, Kanniyakumari, Krishnagiri, Salem, Tiruvallur and Tirunelveli, with two in Madurai. The government has earmarked Rs 25.30 crore for these courts.
For NDPS cases, three special courts would come up in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Vellore, and a special court in Chennai, at a cost of Rs 6.73 crore.
The State will also establish a special court in Erode for cases under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, an additional district court at Perundurai and three subordinate courts at Sholinghur, Natham and Gummidipoondi.