The Andhra Pradesh state assembly on Thursday passed a new bill for constituting exclusive special courts for the speedy trial of specified offences against women and children.
The bill -- the "Andhra Pradesh Disha (Special Courts for Specified Offences against Women and Children) Bill, 2020," was moved by home minister M Sucharita and adopted by voice vote without any discussion.
The new bill, which replaces a similar legislation enacted in 2019, envisages establishment of exclusive special courts for the speedy trial of “specified offences against women and children.”
The special court will be headed by by a judge to be nominated by the government with the concurrence of the state high court.
Sucharita said though there were special courts for trial of offences against women, they were also trying other cases resulting in additional burden on these courts and delay in disposal of offences against women.
“Therefore, the government has felt it necessary to constitute exclusive special courts for speedy trial of specified offences against women and children under various sections of IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 for faster and quick disposal of cases,” she said.
She said the previous legislation passed by the state assembly on December 13, 2019 and by the legislative council on December 16, 2019, were sent to the Union home ministry, but the latter returned the bill making certain suggestions. Hence, the revised bill, she said.
The bill envisages constitution of a special police team at district level to be headed by a deputy superintendent of police for the investigation of specified offence.