Cuttack, Jan. 18: Orissa High Court has decided to move the state government to create one post of assistant sessions judge and another post of judicial magistrate first class in all 30 districts of the state to deal with crimes against women.

“To meet the immediate need”, the court, however, has decided to appoint registrars of civil and sessions courts as assistant sessions judge to function as a “special track courts” to deal with offences against women in addition to their present assignments.

The high court directed the district and sessions judges across the State “to ensure functioning of these special track courts by February 15”.

The decisions followed a sitting of the full court bench of the high court on Monday. “In accord with the decisions taken, the state government will be moved to create a post for supporting staff to the 30 posts of assistant sessions judge and 30 posts of judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) and provide adequate infrastructure for smooth functioning of the courts to deal with offences against women,” an official of the high court registry told The Telegraph.

“The government will also be moved to ensure appointment of public prosecutors to conduct the cases involving sexual offences against the women,” the official said.

The full court bench further asked the high court registry to direct the district and sessions judges “to identify one court each where more than one magistrate are functioning to deal with offences against women and issue suitable instructions to the magistrate to consider the matter of taking cognisance of sexual offences in accordance with law without delay”.

The high court expected the magistrates “to supply police papers to the accused persons and take steps within a period not exceeding ten days”.

The court also expected “all other courts dealing with offences against women to be given priority”.