Lok Sabha Question No. 1231 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-09
Subject: Functional Fast Track Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Rajendra Agrawal

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1231 ANSWERED ON - 09/02/2024

## FUNCTIONAL FAST TRACK COURTS

## 1231 . SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL: SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

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

- (a) the details and features of the Fast Track Courts (FTCs) Scheme;
- (b) the total number of FTCs set up and made functional against the set target as on date, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether  there  exists  a  shortfall  of  about  40  per  cent  in  FTCs  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) the  steps  undertaken  by  the  Government  to  expedite  the  establishment  of  remaining FTCs in the country; and
- (e) the details of measures proposed to be taken to improve implementation and functioning under the scheme?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a)  to  (e): Setting  up  of  subordinate  courts  including  Fast  Track  Courts  (FTCs)  and  their functioning  falls  within  the  domain  of  the  State/UT  Governments  in  consultation  with  their respective High Courts. The 14 th   Finance Commission (FC) had recommended for setting up of 1800 Fast  Track  Courts  (FTCs)  at  a  total  cost  of  Rs.4,144  cr.  during  2015-2020  by  urging  the State/UT Governments to utilize enhanced fiscal space available through tax devolution (32% to 42%)  for  this  purpose.  The  basic  aim  for  setting  FTCs  was  speedy  trial  of  specific  cases  of heinous nature, civil cases related to women, children, senior citizen, disabled persons, persons infected with terminal ailments etc. and property related cases pending for more than 5 years. As per information made available by the High Courts, 851 FTCs are functional across the country as on 31.12.2023. The State/UT-wise details of number of FTCs to be set up and made functional as of  December,  2023  is  given  at Annexure .  The  Union  Government  has  urged  the  State/UT

Governments since 2015-16 onwards to set up more FTCs to achieve the target. The setting up of more FTCs has featured as one of the agenda items in the Joint Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices.

Pursuant to the Criminal Law  (Amendment)  Act,  2018, the Central Government  is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for setting up Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) including exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) since October, 2019 for expeditious trial and disposal of pending cases pertaining to Rape and Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in a time-bound manner. The scheme was initially for one year, which was extended up to March, 2023.  The  Union  Cabinet  has  further  extended  the  Scheme  for  another  three  years,  from 01.04.2023 to 31.03.2026, at a total outlay of Rs.1952.23 cr. including Rs.1207.24 cr. as Central Share  to  be  incurred  from  Nirbhaya  Fund.  As  per  the  data  submitted  by  the  High  Courts,  757 FTSCs including 411 exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) courts are functional in 30 States/UTs, as on 31.12.2023. These courts have disposed of more than 2,14,000 cases since the inception of the Scheme while more than 2,02,000 cases are pending.

For efficient implementation of the Scheme, the Department of Justice is conducting regular review meetings through Video Conferencing with the nodal officers of the State/UT Governments and their respective High Courts.  Communications have been sent at the level of Hon'ble Minister of Law & Justice to the Hon'ble Chief Ministers of the States/UTs and Hon'ble Chief Justices of High Courts to ensure adherence to timelines for disposal of cases as prescribed by  the  amendment  to  CrPC  in  2018.    To  ensure  effective  monitoring,  a  dashboard  has  been created by the Department to gather detailed information and track the performance of the FTSCs, through the High Courts. The performance of FTSCs is also a permanent item on the agenda of Inter-State Zonal Council meetings.

***

## Annexure as referred to in Reply to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1231 for 9 th  February, 2024

## State/UT-wise status of allocated and functional FTCs as of December, 2023

| Sl. No.   | Name of State/UT                        |   No. of FTCs to be established |   No. of Functional FTCs |
|-----------|-----------------------------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh                          |                              47 |                       22 |
| 2         | Arunachal Pradesh                       |                               0 |                        0 |
| 3         | Assam                                   |                              36 |                       15 |
| 4         | Bihar                                   |                             147 |                        0 |
| 5         | Chandigarh                              |                               2 |                        0 |
| 6         | Chhattisgarh                            |                              28 |                       23 |
| 7         | Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Diu& Daman      |                               1 |                        0 |
| 8         | Delhi                                   |                              63 |                       27 |
| 9         | Goa                                     |                               5 |                        6 |
| 10        | Gujarat                                 |                             174 |                       54 |
| 11        | Haryana                                 |                              48 |                        6 |
| 12        | Himachal Pradesh                        |                              13 |                        3 |
| 13        | Jammu &Kashmir                          |                              21 |                        8 |
| 14        | Jharkhand                               |                              50 |                       36 |
| 15        | Karnataka                               |                              95 |                        0 |
| 16        | Kerala                                  |                              41 |                        0 |
| 17        | Ladakh                                  |                               0 |                        0 |
| 18        | Lakshadweep                             |                               0 |                        0 |
| 19        | Madhya Pradesh                          |                             133 |                        0 |
| 20        | Maharashtra                             |                             203 |                       95 |
| 21        | Manipur *                               |                               3 |                        6 |
| 22        | Meghalaya                               |                               4 |                        0 |
| 23        | Mizoram                                 |                               7 |                        2 |
| 24        | Nagaland                                |                               3 |                        0 |
| 25        | Odisha                                  |                              63 |                        0 |
| 26        | Puducherry                              |                               2 |                        0 |
| 27        | Punjab                                  |                              50 |                        7 |
| 28        | Rajasthan                               |                              93 |                        0 |
| 29        | Sikkim                                  |                               1 |                        2 |
| 30        | Tamil Nadu                              |                              87 |                       72 |
| 31        | Telangana                               |                              37 |                        0 |
| 32        | Tripura                                 |                               9 |                        3 |
| 33        | Uttar Pradesh                           |                             212 |                      372 |
| 34        | Uttarakhand                             |                              28 |                        4 |
| 35        | West Bengal and Andaman &Nicobar Island |                              94 |                       88 |
|           | TOTAL                                   |                            1800 |                      851 |