Bhubaneswar: The Odisha law minister, Pratap Jena, Tuesday said that the State is going to set up 45 fast track courts (FTCs) to ensure faster disposal of cases pertaining to grave offences against girl child/ women like rape. High pendency in rape crimes and the resultant intense public pressure over

“Odisha government will set up 45 FTCs on a warfooting,” said Jena.

“State has 24 designated POCSO (Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences) Courts. All required efforts are undertaken to make them functional at the earliest,” he added.

Of the total 45 FTCs in Odisha, 21 courts would exclusively deal with rape cases and other atrocities against women.

A significant mention here is POCSO courts were set up after Supreme Court directed the Union Government to set up special courts in those districts, where more than 100 cases of sexual offences against children were pending.

These special courts will exclusively hear cases of sexual offences against children registered under POCSO Act for time-bound disposal.