26 new special courts for POCSO cases – ₹46.59 crore; 4 more NDPS courts too: CM Vijay orders

1 November 2026 · English Tamil Nadu

Topics: Tamil Nadu · 1 November 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

CM C. Joseph Vijay ordered 26 courts – 12 new special courts and 14 additional special courts – at ₹46.59 crore to try only cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and a G.O. was issued (reported 1 Nov 2026). Now 22 POCSO special courts function and 4 more will start soon; with these there will be 52 special courts for the 47 police districts. In addition, for drug (NDPS) cases, one special court each will come up in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Vellore and one additional court in Chennai (11 exist now).

Key facts

POCSO courts	26 (12 new + 14 additional) – ₹46.59 crore; G.O. issued
Current status	22 working; 4 soon – total 52 (47 police districts)
NDPS courts	11 now; 4 new – Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Chennai (additional)
POCSO Act	2012; 'child' – below 18 years; gender-neutral
Order	CM C. Joseph Vijay – reported 1 Nov 2026

Background

Law: the POCSO Act has been in force since 14 Nov 2012. Under Section 28, the State Government, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court, designates a Court of Session in each district as a 'Special Court'. Trials should be completed, as far as possible, within one year (Section 35). The 2019 amendment allowed up to the death penalty for aggravated offences.
Constitution: Article 15(3) – State may make special provisions for women and children; Article 39(f) – protecting children from exploitation (Directive Principle); Article 39A – free legal aid.
Drug law: Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), set up under it in 1986, is the apex enforcement agency under the Union Home Ministry. The Centre's 'Fast Track Special Courts' (FTSC) scheme is for rape and POCSO cases.

Tamil Nadu link: Tamil Nadu Police's 'Kaaval Uthavi' app lets users send an SOS alert to the police in an emergency – useful for the safety of women and children. The new NDPS courts come up in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore and Chennai.

Source: Daily Thanthi, ETV Bharat, Oneindia Tamil, Tamil Janam – 1 Nov 2026; POCSO Act 2012 (indiacode.nic.in); Vikaspedia (Kaaval Uthavi)

Join our UPSC classroom or online batch: UPSC coaching in Coimbatore · Fees · Call 99941 46662.

📝 Test yourself on this day's news – free quiz

Quiz – 1 November 2026 (Part 1: Q 1–54) Quiz – 1 November 2026 (Part 2: Q 55–107) Quiz – 1 November 2026 (Part 3: Q 108–160) Quiz – 1 November 2026 (Part 4: Q 161–170)