Odisha's Special Court for Maoist Leader Azad: A Legal Precedent

The Odisha government has set up a Special Court to expedite the trial of Maoist leader Dunna Kesava Rao, aka Azad, charged with 37 criminal cases. This unique court solely addresses the pending cases of Azad, and it's a significant legal development for Odisha's judicial system.

The Odisha government has taken a historic step by establishing a Special Court aimed at accelerating the judicial process for Maoist leader Dunna Kesava Rao, also known as Azad. According to a Home department notification issued on Thursday, the court is set to operate in Paralakhemundi, addressing cases across the state with the exception of those filed under the POCSO Act, 2012.

This marks the first time in Odisha's history that an exclusive court has been formed to handle the backlog of cases for a single undertrial prisoner. Azad, who has been held in custody since 2011, faces 37 criminal charges, notably related to the 2008 communal violence in Kandhamal, the attacks on the Nayagarh police armoury, and the R Udaygiri jail.

The initiative follows multiple hunger strikes by Azad in pursuit of a faster trial, prompting the Supreme Court to urge both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to consider special courts. Azad was previously a member of the Maoist party's Orissa State Organising Committee and surrendered to police in 2011.

(With inputs from agencies.)