242 new Fast Track Courts set up in India in five years
For expeditious trial and disposal of cases, 242 new Fast Track Courts have been set up across the country in the last five years taking the total number to 838 as on 31st October 2022, as per information provided by Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju in parliament.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on 22nd December 2022, Rijiju informed that setting up of Fast Track Courts (FTCs) and its functioning comes within the domain of the State Governments who set up such courts as per their need and resources, in consultation with the respective High Courts.
As per information received from the High Courts,733 FTSCs including 413 exclusive POCSO Courts are operationalised in 28 States/UTs which have disposed a total of more than 1,24,000 cases since inception of the scheme. Total 1,93,814 cases are pending as on 31st October 2022, the minister informed.
As per information provided by the High Courts, 242 more FTCs have been setup up after 2017 (596 FTCs were existing as on 31st December 2017 which has increased to 838 FTCs as on 31st October 2022).
The Union Government started a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in October 2019 for setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) including 389 exclusive POCSO Courts in 31 States/UTs for expeditious trial and disposal of cases related to rape and POCSO Act, in pursuance to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2018 and the direction of the Supreme Court of India in Suo Moto 1/2019 dated 25th July 2019.
The Scheme was initially for a period of one year spread over two Financial Years 2019-20 and 2020-21 at a total outlay of Rs 767.25 crore with Rs 474 crore as Central Share to be met from Nirbhaya Fund. In FY 2019-20, Rs 140 crore and in FY 2020-21, Rs 160 crore and in FY 2021-22, Rs 134.56 crore was released to States as Central Share.
The Cabinet further approved the continuation of the Scheme of FTSCs for two years i.e. up to March 2023 with a total budgetary outlay of Rs 1572.86 crore with Rs 971.70 crore as central share.
Each Fast Track Special Court comprises of 1 Judicial Officer and 7 Staff Members. Out of 31 States and UTs eligible, 28 have joined this scheme (Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and A&N Island are yet to join). As per information received from the High Courts,733 FTSCs including 413 exclusive POCSO Courts are operationalised in 28 States/UTs which have disposed a total of more than 1,24,000 cases since inception of the scheme. Total 1,93,814 cases are pending as on 31st October 2022, the minister informed.
