20 more evening courts by monthend

Twenty new evening courts in addition to the existing three at Pune district and sessions court premises in Shivajinagar are expected to start by the end of this month.

Twenty new evening courts in addition to the existing three at Pune district and sessions court premises in Shivajinagar are expected to start by the end of this month. According to a senior judicial officer,the courts will initially handle cases pertaining to negotiable instruments act -section 138.

A total of five evening courts were started in March this year,three in Shivajinagar campus and two in the Pune cantonment court on MG Road. These courts function from 6pm to 8pm after the regular court timing till 5pm.

The Supreme Court has sanctioned Rs 294 crore to start evening courts in the state. Each of the evening courts has a magistrate to preside over,two clerks,a shirastedar and an assistant public prosecutor to present the prosecutions case.

Other than cases under Section 138,evening courts would also hear regular issues that are in the last stage of hearing. The magistrate and other court staff will get 20 percent extra remuneration for practicing in evening courts. However,we are not paid extra for working in these courts, said additional public prosecutor Sanjay Pawar,president,Maharashtra State Public Prosecutors Association (MSPPA).

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