Lok Sabha Question No. 733 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Fast Track Special Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Smt. Delkar Kalaben Mohanbhai, Shri Kripanath Mallah, Shri Raju Bista, Shri Ananta Nayak, Shri Biplab Kumar Deb

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 733 ANSWERED ON - 07/02/2025

## FAST TRACK SPECIAL COURTS

733. SHRI ANANTA NAYAK: SHRI RAJU BISTA: SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI: SHRI BIPLAB KUMAR DEB: SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

Will the Minister of LAWANDJUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to implement the Fast Track Special Courts scheme (FTSCs) scheme along with the key achievements and outcomes thereof;
- (b) the total number of FTSCs that have been established since the inception of the scheme across the country and the disposal rates of rape and POCSO cases therein compared to regular courts, State/UT-wise including Tripura, West Bengal, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Odisha particularly Keonjhar and other underserved districts;
- (c) the details of funding mechanism that supported the establishment and operation of these courts in the country including the said States and the manner in which the Government ensures that the Nirbhaya Fund and other funds have been utilised effectively by the States;
- (d) the amount allocated and spent, State-wise;
- (e) the measures taken by the Government to establish and operationalise (FTSCs) across the country to expedite the trial of serious cases;
- (f) the manner in which the Government plans to monitor and evaluate the performance of FTSCs in terms of reducing backlog cases and improving access to justice; and
- (g) the details of initiatives being implemented to promote public awareness about the existence and functions of FTSCs particularly among vulnerable populations?

## 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) & (b): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme for setting up Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) including exclusive POCSO Courts for expeditious trial and disposal of Rape and POCSO Act cases 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]. The Scheme has been extended twice, with the latest extension up to 31 st March 2026, targeting the establishment of 790 courts, after securing the approval of the Union Cabinet. The total financial outlay of the scheme is Rs. 1952.23 cr. with Rs. 1207.24 cr. as Central Share to be incurred from Nirbhaya Fund on the CSS pattern.

As per the inputs received from the High Courts, as on 31.12.2024, 747 FTSCs including 406 exclusive POCSO Courts are functional in 30 States/UTs. These courts have disposed around 3,00,000 cases as of 31.12.2024. The State/UT-wise details of functional Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) along with the cumulative disposal, are at Annexure-I.

At the inception of the Scheme, the allocation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) was determined by a criterion that one FTSC would be established for every 65 to 165 pending cases. Based on this yardstick, 31 States/Union Territories (UTs) were initially eligible to participate in the Scheme. Arunachal Pradesh opted out citing a very low number of pending cases of rape and POCSO Act, while Puducherry joined the Scheme at a later stage upon special request and operationalized an exclusive POCSO Court in May, 2023. Additionally, the UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has conveyed its willingness to join the Scheme, but has not yet established any FTSC. Consequently, the Scheme currently includes a total of 32 participating States/UTs. The UT Administration of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu was not made part of the scheme as the total number of pending cases was less than the number of cases (65 and above) required, to set up the FTSC. In the State of Odisha, Keonjhar District has two functional FTSCs including one exclusive POCSO Court, dealing with rape and POCSO Act cases. In the State of Tripura, 3 FTSCs including exclusive POCSO courts are functional at Agartala, West Tripura District and Unakoti District. In the State of West Bengal, 6 exclusive POCSO courts are functional at Howrah, North-24 Parganas, Murshidabad, Kolkata, Paschim Bardhaman and Hooghly District.

As per the inputs received from the High Courts, the disposal rate of Rape and POCSO Act cases in Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) is significantly higher than in regular courts. While the average disposal rate of Rape and POCSO Act cases in regular courts is estimated at 3.2 cases per court per month, FTSCs achieve an average of 9.5 cases per month.

(c) & (d): Following the Nirbhaya case of 16 th December, 2012, the Government has set up a dedicated fund - Nirbhaya Fund - which can be utilized for projects specifically designed to enhance the safety and security of women. It is a non-lapsable corpus fund, being administered by Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. 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 total of ₹ 1008.14 Crore to the States/UTs since its inception to ensure the smooth functioning of the courts, which includes ₹ 173.59 Crore released in the current F.Y. 2024-25, against the allocated budget of ₹ 200.00 Crore. The funds are released on CSS Pattern (60:40, 90:10) and cover the salaries of one Judicial Officer, seven support staff, and a flexi grant to cover day-to-day expenditures. 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 .

(e) to (g): The establishment of Fast Track Special Courts demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the Government towards women security, combating sexual and gender-based violence, reducing the backlog of pending cases related to Rape & POCSO Act, and providing enhanced access to justice for survivors of sexual crimes. With professional and experienced judges and support staff specialized in handling sensitive sexual offense cases, these courts ensure consistent and expert-guided legal proceedings offering victims of sexual offences swift resolution in mitigating the trauma and distress, and enabling them to move forward.

For efficient implementation of the Scheme, the Department of Justice conducts regular review meetings through Video Conferencing with the nodal officers of the State/UT Governments and their respective High Courts. 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. All the data and information related to Fast Track Special Courts is periodically updated on the Departments website and the same is also uploaded on the social media platforms from time to time to promote public awareness about the existence and functions of FTSCs.

*****

## ANNEXURE-I

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 733 FOR ANSWER ON 07.02.2025 REGARDING 'FAST TRACK SPECIAL COURTS'

## State/UT-wise details of functional Fast Track Special Courts including exclusive POCSO Courts (As on 31.12.2024)

| Sl. No.   | Name of States/UTs   | 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.   | Name of States/UTs   | FTSCs including exclusive POCSO | Exclusive POCSO     | FTSCs                                                   | Exclusive POCSO                                         | Total                                                   |
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh       | 16                              | 16                  | 0                                                       | 6221                                                    | 6221                                                    |
| 2         | Assam                | 17                              | 17                  | 0                                                       | 7664                                                    | 7664                                                    |
| 3         | Bihar                | 46                              | 46                  | 0                                                       | 14495                                                   | 14495                                                   |
| 4         | Chandigarh           | 1                               | 0                   | 317                                                     | 0                                                       | 317                                                     |
| 5         | Chhattisgarh         | 15                              | 11                  | 1131                                                    | 4611                                                    | 5742                                                    |
| 6         | Delhi                | 16                              | 11                  | 676                                                     | 1660                                                    | 2336                                                    |
| 7         | Goa                  | 1                               | 0                   | 61                                                      | 34                                                      | 95                                                      |
| 8         | Gujarat              | 35                              | 24                  | 2852                                                    | 11671                                                   | 14523                                                   |
| 9         | Haryana              | 16                              | 12                  | 1815                                                    | 5438                                                    | 7253                                                    |
| 10        | Himachal Pradesh     | 6                               | 3                   | 531                                                     | 749                                                     | 1280                                                    |
| 11        | Jammu &Kashmir       | 4                               | 2                   | 112                                                     | 151                                                     | 263                                                     |
| 12        | Jharkhand            | 22                              | 16                  | 2550                                                    | 5585                                                    | 8135                                                    |
| 13        | Karnataka            | 30                              | 17                  | 4721                                                    | 7729                                                    | 12450                                                   |
| 14        | Kerala               | 55                              | 14                  | 15987                                                   | 7215                                                    | 23202                                                   |
| 15        | Madhya Pradesh       | 67                              | 57                  | 4432                                                    | 25333                                                   | 29765                                                   |
| 16        | Maharashtra          | 6                               | 2                   | 8635                                                    | 11988                                                   | 20623                                                   |
| 17        | Manipur              | 2                               | 0                   | 172                                                     | 0                                                       | 172                                                     |
| 18        | Meghalaya            | 5                               | 5                   | 0                                                       | 647                                                     | 647                                                     |
| 19        | Mizoram              | 3                               | 1                   | 176                                                     | 66                                                      | 242                                                     |
| 20        | Nagaland             | 1                               | 0                   | 65                                                      | 3                                                       | 68                                                      |
| 21        | Odisha               | 44                              | 23                  | 6237                                                    | 11470                                                   | 17707                                                   |
| 22        | Puducherry*          | 1                               | 1                   | 0                                                       | 122                                                     | 122                                                     |
| 23        | Punjab               | 12                              | 3                   | 2424                                                    | 2268                                                    | 4692                                                    |
| 24        | Rajasthan            | 45                              | 30                  | 5251                                                    | 12040                                                   | 17291                                                   |
| 25        | Tamil Nadu           | 14                              | 14                  | 0                                                       | 8898                                                    | 8898                                                    |

| 26   | Telangana            |   36 |   0 |   7567 |   2731 |   10298 |
|------|----------------------|------|-----|--------|--------|---------|
| 27   | Tripura              |    3 |   1 |    230 |    208 |     438 |
| 28   | Uttarakhand          |    4 |   0 |   1792 |      0 |    1792 |
| 29   | Uttar Pradesh        |  218 |  74 |  40257 |  42404 |   82661 |
| 30   | West Bengal          |    6 |   6 |      0 |    232 |     232 |
| 31   | A&N Islands**        |    0 |   0 |      0 |      0 |       0 |
| 32   | Arunachal Pradesh*** |    0 |   0 |      0 |      0 |       0 |
|      | TOTAL                |  747 | 406 | 107991 | 191633 |  299624 |

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.

* Puducherry specially requested to join the Scheme and has since operationalized one exclusive POCSO Court in May 2023.

** 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

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) & (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 733 FOR ANSWER ON 07.02.2025 REGARDING 'FAST TRACK SPECIAL COURTS'

## State/UT-wise Total Central Share of funds released under the Fast Track Special Courts Scheme (As on 03.02.2025)

| Sl. No.   | Name of States/UTs   | Total Funds (central share) Released from F.Y. 2019-20 to F.Y. 2024-25   |
|-----------|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh       | 1.8                                                                      |
| 2         | Assam                | 26.65787                                                                 |
| 3         | Bihar                | 70.665365                                                                |
| 4         | Chandigarh           | 0.1875                                                                   |
| 5         | Chhattisgarh         | 21.8951                                                                  |
| 6         | Delhi                | 13.2669                                                                  |
| 7         | Goa                  | 1.16129                                                                  |
| 8         | Gujarat              | 41.2409                                                                  |
| 9         | Haryana              | 22.44234                                                                 |
| 10        | Himachal Pradesh     | 9.07991                                                                  |
| 11        | Jammu &Kashmir       | 8.57994                                                                  |
| 12        | Jharkhand            | 20.49482                                                                 |
| 13        | Karnataka            | 36.10824                                                                 |
| 14        | Kerala               | 54.78451                                                                 |
| 15        | Madhya Pradesh       | 105.96558                                                                |
| 16        | Maharashtra          | 47.59724                                                                 |
| 17        | Manipur              | 3.86372                                                                  |
| 18        | Meghalaya            | 7.14255                                                                  |
| 19        | Mizoram              | 7.31808                                                                  |
| 20        | Nagaland             | 1.75811                                                                  |
| 21        | Odisha               | 54.9262                                                                  |
| 22        | Puducherry*          | 0.555405                                                                 |
| 23        | Punjab               | 13.93488                                                                 |
| 24        | Rajasthan            | 84.14015                                                                 |
| 25        | Tamil Nadu           | 25.465555                                                                |
| 26        | Telangana            | 29.13895                                                                 |
| 27        | Tripura              | 5.28433                                                                  |
| 28        | Uttarakhand          | 9.10444                                                                  |
| 29        | Uttar Pradesh        | 281.40032                                                                |
| 30        | West Bengal          | 1.816695                                                                 |
| 31        | A&N Islands**        | --                                                                       |
| 32        | Arunachal Pradesh*** | --                                                                       |
|           | TOTAL                | 1008.14477                                                               |

( ₹ in Crore)

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.

* Puducherry specially requested to join the Scheme and has since operationalized one exclusive POCSO Court in May 2023.

** 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.