Chennai, November 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Tamil Nadu government has approved 26 additional special courts to exclusively hear cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, at an estimated cost of Rs 46.59 crore. It has also sanctioned four more special courts to expedite trials under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The decisions follow a review chaired by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on pending cases and the need to strengthen the state’s judicial infrastructure.
According to an official statement, Vijay directed officials to establish dedicated POCSO courts across districts, speed up investigations and ensure that those convicted of offences receive punishment under the law.
Tamil Nadu currently has 22 functioning special POCSO courts, with four more approved earlier and awaiting operationalisation. The latest sanction comprises 12 new special courts and 14 additional courts, taking the planned statewide strength to 52.
The expanded network will cater to the state’s 47 police districts and exclusively handle cases registered under the POCSO Act. The government expects the additional capacity to help reduce the backlog and ensure faster trials in cases involving sexual offences against children.
Separately, four additional NDPS special courts have been approved under the state’s “Drug-Free Tamil Nadu” campaign. One court each will be established in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Vellore, while Chennai will get another special court.
Tamil Nadu currently has 11 special courts dealing with NDPS cases. The government said the new courts would help speed up the trial and disposal of pending narcotics cases and strengthen legal action against drug trafficking and consumption.
The two decisions are aimed at improving the capacity of the state’s judicial system to deal with cases involving child protection and narcotics offences.
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