Odisha to Fast-Track SC/ST Atrocity Cases Through Six New Special Courts

Odisha has established six exclusive special courts to hear cases registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, in a significant step aimed at speeding up trials and strengthening legal protection for victims of caste-based crimes. The new judicial infrastructure is expected to reduce delays in the disposal of pending atrocity cases in districts reporting a heavy caseload.

The courts will function as Additional District and Sessions Judges-cum-Special Courts with exclusive jurisdiction over cases arising from the revenue districts of Bhadrak, Ganjam (Berhampur), Jajpur, Kendrapara and Puri, as well as the Khurda revenue sub-division. The Odisha Home Department issued the notification after obtaining the recommendations of the Orissa High Court, as required under the law.

Alongside the notification, the state  government has requested the High Court to appoint Additional District and Sessions Judges to preside over the newly created courts so that they can begin functioning.

The decision follows a comprehensive assessment carried out by the State Human Rights Protection Cell (SHRPC) at the Police Headquarters. After examining the volume of pending cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act across the state, the SHRPC identified districts where exclusive courts were considered necessary and submitted a proposal that ultimately received judicial approval.

The exercise was led by Additional Director General of Police Yatindra Koyal, whose office coordinated the review and the consultations that paved the way for the establishment of the six special courts.

According to the government, the exclusive courts are intended to ensure faster trials and more efficient prosecution of offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. By creating dedicated judicial forums, the administration expects to reduce the backlog of cases while improving access to timely justice for members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The initiative is also expected to strengthen the state’s overall mechanism for handling atrocity cases by streamlining judicial proceedings and enhancing case management in districts with a high incidence of such offences.

The government indicated that the expansion may not end with these six courts. It is examining the possibility of setting up similar exclusive courts in other districts where a large number of SC/ST atrocity cases remain pending. The proposal also includes the appointment of Special Public Prosecutors to improve the effectiveness of prosecutions under the Act.

In its official statement, the government described the establishment of the special courts as part of the SHRPC’s sustained efforts to reinforce the justice delivery system for victims of caste-based atrocities. Officials said the move is designed to ensure quicker legal remedies, improve the pace of adjudication and strengthen the implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act across Odisha.