Lok Sabha Question No. 3286 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Fast Track and Special Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

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## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3286 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 17 th  DECEMBER, 2021

## Fast Track and Special Courts

## 3286. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of fast track and special courts set up under special statutes in the country;
- (b) the details of the average time taken by these courts from the time of filing of case to rendering a verdict;
- (c) whether the fast track and special courts have reduced the burden on the judiciary; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF LAW & JUSTICE (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a to d): Setting up of Fast Track Courts (FTCs) and its functioning comes within the  domain  of  the  State  Governments  in  consultation  with  the  respective  High Courts.As per information received from the High Courts, 914 FTCs are functional in 23 States/UTs as on October, 2021 dealing with cases of heinous crimes, civil cases  related  towomen,  children,  senior  citizens,  HIV/AIDS  etc  and  property related  cases  pending  for  more  than  5  years  as  recommended  by  14 th Finance Commission.  Special  courts  are  set  up  in  the  country  on  specific  matters  by  the concerned Ministry /Department  which  administer  these special statutes. In pursuance  to  the  direction  of  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  of  India's  Order  dated 01.11.2017  and  14.12.2017  in  Writ  Petition  (Civil)  699/2016  [Ashwini  Kumar Upadhyaya Vs Union of India &Anr] case, 12 Special Courts were set up in 11 States [NCT of Delhi-02, Andhra Pradesh-01, Telangana-1, Karnataka-1, Kerala-1,

Tamil  Nadu-1,  Maharashtra-1,  Madhya  Pradesh-1,  Uttar  Pradesh-1.  Bihar-1  and West  Bengal-1]  for  expeditious  trial  and  disposal  of  criminal  cases  involving elected MPs/MLAs. 10 such Special Courts are presently functional except Special Court  of  Kerala  and  Bihar.The  Government  of  India  is  also  implementing  a Centrally Sponsored Scheme since October 2019 for setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special  Courts  (FTSCs)  including  389  exclusive  POCSO  (e-POCSO)  courts  for expeditious trial and disposal of cases related to rape and POCSO Act. The Scheme which  started  in  Oct  2019,  has  been  extended  up  to  31.03.2023.  681 FTSCs including 381 e-POCSO Courts are presently functional in 27 States/UTs.

These FTCs have disposed more than 31.92 lakh cases from 2015 till Oct 2021. The FTSCs have disposed 64,217 cases as on 31.10.2021. The above case disposal figures  shows  how  FTCs  and  FTSCs  have  helped  in  swift  disposal  of  pending cases. The issue of setting up of FTSCs and their early operationalization has been taken up with concerned States/UTs at various level from time to time. Minister of Law & Justice has addressed letters to Chief Ministers of States and Chief Justices of High Courts in this regard. In addition, regular review meetings with officials of the States/UTs and High Court functionaries are being held from time to time for operationalization  of  remaining  FTSCsso  asto  further  reduce  the  burden  on judiciary. However, the details of the average time taken by these courts from the time of filing of case to rendering a verdict being dynamic in nature is not centrally maintained.

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