Odisha Chief Justice Dr S Muralidhar in the presence of all the judges of the High Court on Thursday inaugurated several courts in the State, including 15 fast track special courts, to deal with cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and rape cases. The Pocso courts will function under the District Judgeships of Cuttack, Baleswar, Bhadrak, Balangir, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kendrapada, Khordha, Koraput, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Sambalpur, said a release issued by the High Court Registry here. A high pendency of child sexual abuse cases was always a cause of concern for the judiciary and the Supreme Court was constantly issuing directives to the State Government to set up fast track courts (FTCs) as over hundreds of such cases were pending in several districts of the State. According to a report submitted in the apex court last year, there were at least 20 districts in Odisha where 200 or more Pocso cases had been pending for over a year. In at least four districts, 400 or more cases were pending for over a year. The State Government, however, had released funds for setting up at least 22 Pocso courts. The Chief Justice also on the day inaugurated courts of Civil Judge (Junior Division)-cum-JMFC at Ersama in Jagatsinghpur district and Polsara in Ganajm.