Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced that seven special courts will be set up across the state to hear cases on sexual offenses committed on women. The CM’s announcement–made in the Assembly on Saturday, January 11—comes in the wake of widespread outrage against the sexual assault of an Anna University student last month.
The courts are to be set up in Madurai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Salem, Trichy, and Chennai and its neighbouring areas, the CM said in his reply to the motion of thanks to Governor RN Ravi’s address. Further, the Tamil Nadu Prison Rules, 1983, is to be amended to prevent persons convicted for sexual offenses from being granted bail. Stalin added that district-wise special units, headed by Additional Superintendents of Police (ASP), will be formed to fast-track such trials.
The Assembly also passed two amendment bills proposing stricter punishments for crimes against women and updating existing legislation to address harassment through digital platforms. The Criminal Laws (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Bill and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women (Amendment) Bill will strengthen the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 1998, and amend the applicability of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the state. Stalin had introduced both amendment bills on January 10.
A second year BTech student at Anna University was sexually assaulted on campus on December 23, allegedly by a man identified as Gnanasekaran. He is also accused of filming the assault and blackmailing the survivor. Gnanasekaran was initially believed to be a DMK member, after photos of him with various party leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin went viral. The CM, however, denied these claims, saying the accused was only a DMK sympthathiser.