SHILLONG: The State government is examining the need of setting up of Special Courts for expediting trials of crimes/offences against women in consultation and with the approval of the High Court of Meghalaya.
Reacting to a news item in The Shillong Times on funds not being available for fast track courts in the Meghalaya, the State government said, “With the separation of the judiciary in six districts, the disposal of cases will be further expedited. This will also help in better investigation of cases under closer supervision of professionally administered judicial courts.”
“Instructions have been given to all the public prosecutors to the effect that in all cases to rape, trafficking, torture, abuse and exploitation of children, serious and speedy action should be taken whenever they come up in any court within their respective jurisdiction,” it further stated.
The State government further informed that there are three fast track courts and one Special Court in Shillong, Jowai, Tura and Nongstoin, respectively, for trial of pending cases under the centrally sponsored scheme and the Eleventh Finance Commission Award.
“Once the term of the centrally sponsored scheme and the Finance Commission award expired, these fast track/ special courts also had to be wound up,” the government said.
In the wake of the spurt of criminal cases against women and the delay in the disposal of cases of critical and sensitive nature, the State government has a special law, the Meghalaya Special Courts Act, 2014 which provides for the establishment of special courts for expeditious of trial of offences.
To deal with the offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual offences act, 2012, special courts have been constituted in all the districts in the State, the government clarified.
