India, July 30 -- The Calcutta High Court has designated five courts as Fast Track Courts for the investigation, inquiry and trial of offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, in a move aimed at ensuring the speedy disposal of cases relating to examination malpractices in West Bengal and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. A notification issued by the High Court on Wednesday said the decision was taken under Article 227 of the Constitution, read with provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, to expedite cases involving offences under Sections 10 and 11 of the Act.
Under the order, the Judge, Bench-I, City Sessions Court, Calcutta, has been designated to conduct the trial and adjudication of cases investigated by agencies of the Government of West Bengal. The Judge, Special CBI Court No. 2, City Sessions Court, Calcutta, will handle investigation, judicial inquiry, cognisance, trial and adjudication of cases investigated by agencies of the Government of India. For the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Port Blair, has been designated to conduct the trial and adjudication of cases under the Act. The High Court has also designated the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, First Court, Calcutta, and the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Port Blair, to deal with matters relating to investigation, judicial inquiry, cognisance, trial and adjudication of such cases, besides committing them to the designated Sessions Courts where required. The notification further provides that appeals or revisions arising from orders or judgments of the designated Fast Track Magistrate Courts shall lie before the respective designated Fast Track Sessions Courts.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.