Delhi L-G approves expansion of Special Courts jurisdiction to prosecute former MPs, MLAs

Delhi Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena has approved a proposal to expand the jurisdiction of three Special Courts handling cases under the CPCR Act and POCSO Act.

These Special Courts will now also try cases related to former MPs and MLAs, the L-G office announced in a press release on Wednesday. The Delhi government submitted the proposal to the L-G.

In July 2023, Mr. Saxena approved the creation of three designated Special Courts at Rouse Avenue Courts to handle cases under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, against sitting MPs and MLAs.

The Special Courts were in addition to the eight existing courts handling child rights and POCSO-related cases across the city.

The move follows a 2020 directive from the Delhi High Court. The Women and Child Development (WCD) Department coordinated with the Law Department to initiate the proposal.