Expedite trial in sexual offences against women and children, orders Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has ordered trial courts in Tamil Nadu to expedite sexual offence cases, mandating that trials be completed within two months. The directive emphasizes strict adherence to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and includes specific requirements for child-sensitive procedures in POCSO cases.
Why it matters
This judicial intervention aims to reduce the backlog of sensitive cases and ensure timely justice for victims of sexual violence, particularly children.
The Madras High Court on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) directed all trial courts seized of sexual offence cases in Tamil Nadu to make every effort to complete the trial within two months by not granting adjournments, except for “truly exceptional reasons to be recorded in writing.”
Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan directed the Registrar General of High Court to issue a circular to all district and sessions courts in the State, reiterating the statutory requirement under Section 346(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to complete the trial within two months of filing the charge sheet by the police.
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