Exclusive Special Court Approved in Pune to Fast-Track Drug-Related Cases

Mumbai, August 6: In a major policy decision aimed at accelerating trial proceedings and clearing the heavy backlog of drug-related offenses, the Maharashtra state government has approved the establishment of a dedicated Special Court in Pune. The Law and Judiciary Department issued official administrative sanction to set up the court specifically for cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

The decision follows recommendations from the Bombay High Court, which highlighted the surging volume of pending NDPS cases in the region. To ensure smooth operations, the government has sanctioned eight new official posts for the court. The sanctioned staff strength includes 1 District & Additional Sessions Judge, 1 Stenographer (Grade-1), 1 Assistant Superintendent, 1 Senior Clerk, 2 Junior Clerks, and 2 Peons deployed via external service providers.

The state government has also allocated a total financial outlay of 1,26,35,444 for the establishment and running of the tribunal. This budget comprises an annual recurring expenditure of 1,04,84,444 and a non-recurring cost of 21,51,000. Following cabinet approval and formal notification, the dedicated judicial setup is expected to significantly bolster anti-narcotics enforcement and streamline legal prosecution across Pune district.