The newly created 7th Additional District and Sessions Judge Court started to function from Puttur on Monday.

In a letter dated May 29 to president and members of Puttur Bar Association, the Chief Ministerial Officer of 5th Additional District and Sessions Court, sitting at Puttur, said the new court will be Special Court for trial of cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and other cases.

As per the proceedings of Principal District and Sessions Judge, Dakshina Kannada, 177 cases under POCSO, and pending criminal cases, in the court of 5th Additional District and Sessions Court, Puttur, will be transferred to the new court with effect from June 1, the letter stated.

President of Puttur Bar Association Jagannath Rai said so far the 5th Additional District and Sessions Judge Court, Puttur, was trying POSCO and other serious criminal cases of the region. With increase in pendency of POCSO cases before the 5th District and Sessions Court, there was demand for additional District and Sessions Court, which has now become a reality, Mr. Rai said.

The High Court has appointed Sumangala Chakalabbi as the judge for the new court. It has posted Sadanand Nagappa Naika as the new iudge of the 5th Additional District and Sessions Court.

Principal District and Sessions Judge, Dakshina Kannada, Basavaraj, formally inaugurated the new court. The Bar Association had a function to felicitate judges Mr. Basavaraj, Ms. Chakalabbi and Mr. Naika, on Monday afternoon.

The functioning of the Itinerary court of Principal Civil Judge and JMFC Puttur started at Kadaba on Monday. Mr. Rai said the Principal Civil Judge court will be sitting in Kadaba on Tuesday and Friday in a week. The itinerary court will be functioning from a rented accommodation, Mr. Rai said.