The Karnataka High Court issued a notification regarding formation of special courts in 10 places including Mangalore for speedy trial of cases of rape.
As per the notification dated November 26, the High Court has designated the new Sixth Additional District and Sessions Court as the special court for trying cases of rape registered in Dakshina Kannada. The notification states that the Fourth Additional District and Sessions Judge will hold the charge of the Sixth Additional District and Sessions Court until a new judge is appointed.
An official from the office of District and Sessions Judge said the notification was not clear whether the special court will try all pending cases of rape or those registered afresh. “We are expecting clarification in this regard from the High Court,” the official said.
Two special courts are coming up in Bangalore City and one each in Bangalore Rural, Belgaum, Gulbarga, Madikeri, Mandya, Mysore and Ramanagaram.
In September 2013 the State government proposed setting up 10 special courts in the State. Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra had said stringent laws and speedy disposal of cases could act as a deterrent and bring down the number of crimes against women.
Every special court would be provided with a District Judge and 36 other personnel, the Minister had said.
The proposal was formed following activists’s demand for speedy trial of rape cases as done by a Special Court in Delhi. The Delhi Court on September 13 sentenced four persons to death for raping a girl on December 16, 2012.
