By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, December 10, 2019: Odisha will set up 45 fast-track special courts (FTSC) to ensure speedy trial of cases involving crime against women and children.

“Of the total 45 courts, 21 courts would deal with cases related to rape and sexual assault while 24 others will exclusively deal with cases registered under protection of children from sexual offences (POCSO) Act. The 24 courts to deal with POCSO cases have already been established which will soon be made functional,” law minister Pratap Jena on Tuesday told reporters here.

The opposition BJP and Congress recently blasted the state government for a sharp rise in the crime against women mostly minor girls in Odisha. They also criticized the state government over low conviction rate of cases relating to women.

As many as 1149 rape cases including 604 involving minors were registered in the state in the first six months, minister of state for home affairs Dibya Shankar Mishra told the state assembly recently.

Odisha also has seen low conviction rate in rape cases as the conviction rate in rape cases in Odisha was only 18.35 per cent last year, official sources revealed.