The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the State government to examine, in consultation with the court, the necessity of establishing exclusive special courts to try cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act in the districts where such courts were not functioning, taking into account district-wise pendency and workload of cases.
Justice B. Pugalendhi directed the Registrar General of the High Court to follow up on the proposal pending before the committee for designating additional sessions courts, in addition to the sessions court, as the special courts to enable distribution of workload among the Principal District and Sessions Judges and the Additional District and Sessions Judges, having regard to the pendency and workload of cases in the respective districts.
The State should extend all cooperation to the High Court administration in providing the required infrastructure, supporting staff and other facilities for the effective functioning of the existing and any additionally designated special courts, the court directed.
The Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, in coordination with the Director of Prosecution, should ensure that adequate prosecuting personnel were made available to the existing special courts and any additional special courts that might be designated so that trials were not delayed, the court said.
Principal District and Sessions Judges/ Sessions Judges dealing with cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act should give due priority to such cases and make every endeavour to conduct the trials on a day-to-day basis, as far as practicable, and conclude them within the period contemplated under Section 4(4) of the Act. Whenever the statutory period was exceeded, the reasons should be recorded in accordance with the said provision, the court said while disposing of a case seeking a speedy trial of a case registered for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code.
Published – November 12, 2026 10:17 pm IST
