AHMEDABAD: Under attack for atrocities on Dalits and other marginalised sections in the state, especially after the flogging of four Dalit men in July this year, the Gujarat government has set up 16 new courts at district level for speedy trial of cases registered under the Prevention of Atrocities against SCs and STs Act.
The state law department has issued a notification after consultation with the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court for setting up of new courts which will become functional from October 1.
“The trial in cases registered under the Atrocity Act get delayed because there are no special courts to try such cases on fast track basis. Now, for speedy trial, such cases will be tried in special courts,” a senior official in the government said.
It may be noted that the setting up of designated courts for fast track trial of atrocity cases was one of the demands made by Dalit leaders and activists during the recent agitation against the rising number of atrocities against the members of scheduled castes in the state.
