Lok Sabha Question No. 3231 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Scheme of Fast Track Special Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Kripanath Mallah

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3231 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 08 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## SCHEME OF FAST TRACK SPECIAL COURTS

## 3231. SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

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

(a) the number of Fast Track Special Courts established since the Scheme's inception, and their impact on the disposal rates of rape and POCSO cases compared to regular courts; and

(b) the funding mechanisms that support the establishment and operation of these courts, and the manner in which the Nirbhaya Fund has been utilised in this context?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the establishment of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO (ePOCSO) Courts came to be introduced in October, 2019, following the enactment of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 and the order of Hon'ble Supreme Court [Suo Motu Writ (Criminal) No. 1/2019]. These courts are dedicated to the time-bound trial and disposal of pending cases related to rape and crimes under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. The Scheme has been extended twice, with the latest extension up to 31st March 2026, for establishment of 790 courts. The financial outlay under the scheme is ₹ 1952.23 crore with ₹ 1207.24 crore as Central Share to be incurred from Nirbhaya Fund on the CSS pattern.

As of 30.06.2025, 725 FTSCs, including 392 exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) Courts are functional in 29 States/UTs, which have disposed of 3,34,213 cases since the inception of the Scheme. The State/UTwise details of functional Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) along with the number of cases disposed since the inception of the Scheme are at Annexure-I.

As per the inputs received from the High Courts, the disposal rate of Rape and POCSO Act cases in Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) appears to be significantly higher than in regular courts. While the average disposal rate of Rape and POCSO Act cases in regular courts is estimated at 3.26 cases per court per  month,  FTSCs  achieve  an  average  of  9.51  cases  per  court  per  month.  This  suggests  an  enhanced efficiency in case disposal through FTSCs.

(b):   Following the Nirbhaya case of 16th December, 2012, the Government has set up a dedicated fund Nirbhaya Fund - which can be utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women. It is a non-lapsable corpus fund, being administered by Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of  Finance.  The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  (M/o  WCD)  is  the  nodal  Ministry  to appraise/recommend proposals and Schemes to be funded under Nirbhaya Fund. M/o WCD further has the responsibility  to  review  and  monitor  the  progress  of  sanctioned  schemes  in  conjunction  with  the  Line Ministries/Departments.

The  FTSCs  have  been  set  up  and  operationalized  under  the  Nirbhaya  Fund.  The  Department  has released a sum of ₹ 1034.55 Crore to the States/UTs since its inception to ensure the smooth functioning of the courts. The funds are released on CSS Pattern (Central share: State share :: 60:40, 90:10) to cover the salaries  of  one  Judicial  Officer  along  with  7  support  Staff  and  a  Flexi  Grant  for  meeting  the  day-to-day expenses. The funds are released to the States/UTs on a reimbursement basis, determined by the number of functional Courts in the State/UT concerned.  The State/UT-wise details of Central Share of funds released, since the inception of the Scheme are at Annexure-II.

*****

## Annexure-I

State/UT-wise details of functional Fast Track Special Courts including exclusive POCSO (ePOCSO) Courts along with the cumulative disposal since the inception of the Scheme (as on 30.06.2025)

| Sl. No.   |                      | Functional Courts      | Functional Courts   | Cumulative Disposal since the inception of the Scheme   | Cumulative Disposal since the inception of the Scheme   | Cumulative Disposal since the inception of the Scheme   |
|-----------|----------------------|------------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.   | State/UT             | FTSCs including ePOCSO | ePOCSO              | FTSCs                                                   | ePOCSO                                                  | Total                                                   |
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh       | 16                     | 16                  | 0                                                       | 7487                                                    | 7487                                                    |
| 2         | Assam                | 17                     | 17                  | 0                                                       | 8943                                                    | 8943                                                    |
| 3         | Bihar                | 46                     | 46                  | 0                                                       | 17232                                                   | 17232                                                   |
| 4         | Chandigarh           | 1                      | 0                   | 374                                                     | 0                                                       | 374                                                     |
| 5         | Chhattisgarh         | 15                     | 11                  | 1289                                                    | 5139                                                    | 6428                                                    |
| 6         | Delhi                | 16                     | 11                  | 760                                                     | 1958                                                    | 2718                                                    |
| 7         | Goa                  | 1                      | 0                   | 82                                                      | 34                                                      | 116                                                     |
| 8         | Gujarat              | 35                     | 24                  | 3389                                                    | 13227                                                   | 16616                                                   |
| 9         | Haryana              | 18                     | 14                  | 2018                                                    | 6069                                                    | 8087                                                    |
| 10        | Himachal Pradesh     | 6                      | 3                   | 600                                                     | 807                                                     | 1407                                                    |
| 11        | J&K                  | 4                      | 2                   | 144                                                     | 167                                                     | 311                                                     |
| 12        | Karnataka            | 30                     | 17                  | 5377                                                    | 8654                                                    | 14031                                                   |
| 13        | Kerala               | 55                     | 14                  | 18256                                                   | 7946                                                    | 26202                                                   |
| 14        | Madhya Pradesh       | 67                     | 56                  | 4920                                                    | 27193                                                   | 32113                                                   |
| 15        | Maharashtra          | 2                      | 1                   | 8727                                                    | 12017                                                   | 20744                                                   |
| 16        | Manipur              | 2                      | 0                   | 194                                                     | 0                                                       | 194                                                     |
| 17        | Meghalaya            | 5                      | 5                   | 0                                                       | 733                                                     | 733                                                     |
| 18        | Mizoram              | 3                      | 1                   | 199                                                     | 70                                                      | 269                                                     |
| 19        | Nagaland             | 1                      | 0                   | 65                                                      | 3                                                       | 68                                                      |
| 20        | Odisha               | 44                     | 23                  | 7218                                                    | 13036                                                   | 20254                                                   |
| 21        | Puducherry           | 1                      | 1                   | 0                                                       | 162                                                     | 162                                                     |
| 22        | Punjab               | 12                     | 3                   | 2785                                                    | 2480                                                    | 5265                                                    |
| 23        | Rajasthan            | 45                     | 30                  | 5830                                                    | 13602                                                   | 19432                                                   |
| 24        | Tamil Nadu           | 14                     | 14                  | 0                                                       | 10199                                                   | 10199                                                   |
| 25        | Telangana            | 36                     | 0                   | 8648                                                    | 2731                                                    | 11379                                                   |
| 26        | Tripura              | 3                      | 1                   | 252                                                     | 237                                                     | 489                                                     |
| 27        | Uttarakhand          | 4                      | 0                   | 1930                                                    | 0                                                       | 1930                                                    |
| 28        | Uttar Pradesh        | 218                    | 74                  | 43558                                                   | 47901                                                   | 91459                                                   |
| 29        | West Bengal          | 8                      | 8                   | 0                                                       | 457                                                     | 457                                                     |
| 30        | Jharkhand *          | 0                      | 0                   | 2777                                                    | 6337                                                    | 9114                                                    |
| 31        | A&N Islands**        | 0                      | 0                   | 0                                                       | 0                                                       | 0                                                       |
| 32        | Arunachal Pradesh*** | 0                      | 0                   | 0                                                       | 0                                                       | 0                                                       |
|           | TOTAL                | 725                    | 392                 | 119392                                                  | 214821                                                  | 334213                                                  |

Note: At the inception of the Scheme, the allocation of FTSCs across the country was based on a criterion of 65 to 165 pending cases per court, meaning one FTSC would be established for every 65 to 165 pending cases. Based on that, only 31 States/UTs were eligible to join the Scheme.

* The State of Jharkhand has decided to exit the FTSC Scheme vide letter dated 07.07.2025. However, the cumulative disposal of 9,114 cases since the inception of the Scheme up to May 2025 continues to be included in the overall disposal figures reported under the FTSC Scheme.

**A&N islands has consented to join the Scheme, but is yet to operationalize any court.

***Arunachal Pradesh has opted out of the Scheme citing a very low number of pending cases of Rape and POCSO Act.

## Annexure -II

## State/UT-wise details of central share of funds released since the inception of the Scheme till 31.07.2025

| Sl. No.   | States/ UTs                          | Central Share of Funds Released (Rs. in crore)   |
|-----------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh                       | 1.80                                             |
| 2.        | Assam                                | 31.34                                            |
| 3.        | Bihar                                | 70.67                                            |
| 4.        | Chandigarh                           | 0.19                                             |
| 5.        | Chhattisgarh                         | 21.90                                            |
| 6.        | Delhi                                | 13.27                                            |
| 7.        | Goa                                  | 1.41                                             |
| 8.        | Gujarat                              | 41.24                                            |
| 9.        | Haryana                              | 26.39                                            |
| 10.       | Himachal Pradesh                     | 9.08                                             |
| 11.       | Jammu and Kashmir                    | 8.58                                             |
| 12.       | Jharkhand*                           | 20.49                                            |
| 13.       | Karnataka                            | 36.11                                            |
| 14.       | Kerala                               | 54.78                                            |
| 15.       | Madhya Pradesh                       | 105.97                                           |
| 16.       | Maharashtra                          | 47.60                                            |
| 17.       | Manipur                              | 3.86                                             |
| 18.       | Meghalaya                            | 7.14                                             |
| 19.       | Mizoram                              | 7.32                                             |
| 20.       | Nagaland                             | 1.76                                             |
| 21.       | Odisha                               | 54.93                                            |
| 22.       | Puducherry                           | 0.56                                             |
| 23.       | Punjab                               | 16.90                                            |
| 24.       | Rajasthan                            | 95.25                                            |
| 25.       | Tamil Nadu                           | 28.92                                            |
| 26.       | Telangana                            | 29.14                                            |
| 27.       | Tripura                              | 5.28                                             |
| 28.       | Uttar Pradesh                        | 281.40                                           |
| 29.       | Uttarakhand                          | 9.10                                             |
| 30.       | West Bengal                          | 1.82                                             |
| 31.       | A&N Islands**                        | -                                                |
| 32.       | Arunachal Pradesh***                 | -                                                |
|           | Total Amount released to States/ UTs | 1034.19                                          |
|           | Third Party Evaluation Cost          | 0.37                                             |
|           | GRAND TOTAL                          | 1034.56                                          |