Mysuru, Hassan, Mandya likely to get centrally-funded Pocso court

Mysuru: The latest Supreme Court directive to the Centre to set up separate courts for trial of cases booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act is likely to be a boon to Mysuru , Mandya and Hassan districts.

The apex court had directed setting up of separate courts, funded centrally, in districts with more than 100 Pocso cases pending.

It has set a 60-day deadline and asked the Centre to submit a compliance report within a month. The SC had also directed appointment of trained and sensitised prosecutors in such courts that would ensure a speedy trial.

The districts in the Old Mysuru region have at least 200 pending cases each. With lack of separate courts, there is an undue delay in disposing of cases pertaining to the Act. Nearly 230 cases are pending in Mysuru, 213 in Mandya and nearly 198 in Hassan districts.

Though there are special courts created to handle Pocso cases in Karnataka, these courts are also tasked with handling of SC/ST atrocity cases. As an arrangement, the first three days in a week is reserved for SC/ST cases while the second half of the week is for Pocso cases.

This has shortened the working days available in a month. Take for instance, in July alone, only 10 working days was reserved for Pocso cases as against 25 workings day in a month. The major share of working days went to SC/ST cases. Of the total 31 days in a month, six days are non-working days—four Sundays and two Saturdays (second, fourth) that are declared holiday.

Though the SC had directed to dispose of the cases within one month once the chargesheet is filed, it takes anywhere between six months and one year for disposal of Pocso cases. Nearly eight cases reported in 2015, 32 in 2016, 51 in 2017 and 89 in 2018 are still pending in Mysuru court.

BC Shivarudraswamy, special public prosecutor of Pocso court, said that second half of a week is reserved for Pocso cases.

PB Dharennavar, deputy director of prosecution, Mysuru division of five districts, told TOI that all special courts handling Pocso cases are also dealing with SC/ST cases. The setting up of special courts for POCSO cases will definitely help in disposing of cases quickly, he said.

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Pending Pocso cases:

As on June

Mysuru: 230

As on April

Chamarajanagar: 47

Kodagu: 19

Mandya: 213

Hassan: 198