Kolkata, Sep 8 (IANS): To ensure fast disposal of rights violation cases, the West Bengal government has set up human rights courts in all the state's 19 districts, a minister said Thursday, claiming the state was the first to do so.
The district and sessions judge would hear the cases in the human rights courts, Law Minister Malay Ghatak told reporters.
Ghatak said the central government had six years ago asked the states to establish such courts.
"But we are the first state to set up such courts," he said.
The courts would be located in the district headquarters and special public prosecutors would be appointed for filing the cases.
However, critics pointed out that the decision could spell doom for the state human rights commission while the lack of police personnel for conducting probes might hamper the functioning of the courts.