Odisha to Establish 15 New POCSO Courts for Child Protection
The Odisha government has announced plans to set up 15 new special courts under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan revealed the initiative in the Assembly while responding to a query from Baliguda MLA Chakramani Kanhar.
The new courts will be located in Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Berhampur, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Bhubaneswar, Baripada, Phulbani, Puri, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Malkangiri, and Sonepur.
These courts are designed to ensure speedy trials in cases of child sexual abuse, harassment, assault, and child pornography.
Under the POCSO Act, trials must conclude within one year of cognisance, making the expansion crucial to reducing delays and strengthening judicial infrastructure.
Officials believe the move will improve access to justice and reinforce mechanisms to safeguard children across Odisha.