Lok Sabha Question No. 5654 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Implementation of Fast Track Special Courts for Sexual Offences
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Pushpendra Saroj

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5654 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 27 TH  MARCH, 2026

## IMPLEMENTATION OF FAST TRACK SPECIAL COURTS FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES

## 5654. SHRI PUSHPENDRA SAROJ:

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

- (a) the Fast Track Special Courts sanctioned and operational during the last five years, yearwise and State-wise, particularly for Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) the number of cases pending before such courts and the reasons identified for delays in disposal in ministerial reviews;
- (c) the number of grievances and representations received regarding delays in the trial of cases under  POCSO  and  other  sexual  offence  laws,  classified  State-wise,  particularly  for  Uttar Pradesh;
- (d)  the  key  findings  of  performance  monitoring  reports  regarding  the  adequacy  of  judges, infrastructure, and support staff; and
- (e)  the  corrective  administrative  and  financial  measures  introduced  to  ensure  the  timely disposal of cases in Fast Track Special Courts?

## 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)  to  (e): A  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  to  set  up  Fast  Track  Special  Courts  (FTSCs), including  exclusive  POCSO  (ePOCSO)  Courts  was  launched  in  October,  2019,  for  the expeditious trial and disposal of pending cases related to rape and offences under the Protection of  Children  from  Sexual  Offences  (POCSO)  Act,  2012.  Initially,  the  Scheme  was  for  the establishment of 1,023 FTSCs, including 389 exclusive POCSO Courts. The Scheme has been extended twice, with the current extension valid up to 31.03.2026 for establishment of 790 FTSCs.

As  per  the  information  made  available  by  the  High  Courts,  as  of  31.01.2026,  774 FTSCs, including 398 exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) Courts were functional in 29 States/UTs. This includes the State of Uttar Pradesh, where all the 218 FTSCs allocated under the Scheme have  been  operationalised.  The  State/UT-wise  and  Year-wise  total  number  of  Fast  Track Special Courts sanctioned and operational during the last five years, are provided at Annexure.

As per the information made available by the High Courts, 2,44,479 rape and POCSO cases are pending before the Fast Track Special Courts including the exclusive POCSO courts. There are several reasons that lead to delay in disposal of cases in courts which, inter-alia, include availability of physical infrastructure, complexity of facts involved, nature of evidence, co-operation of stake holders viz. bar, investigation agencies, witnesses and litigants and proper application of rules and procedures. Other factors that lead to delay in disposal of cases include frequent adjournments.

To strengthen monitoring and improve outcomes under the FTSCs Scheme, regular review meetings are held through video conferencing with the States/UTs and the High Courts. The Hon'ble Minister of Law and Justice has also written to the Hon'ble Chief Ministers and Hon'ble Chief Justices of the High Courts emphasizing strict adherence to statutory timelines prescribed under the POCSO Act, 2012 and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. In addition, the performance of FTSCs is a regular agenda item in the Inter-State Zonal Council meetings to improve inter-governmental coordination and expedite justice delivery.

The funds under the Scheme are released on the pattern of Centrally Sponsored Scheme (Central share: State share :: 60:40, 90:10) to cover the salaries of one Judicial Officer along with 7 support Staff per court and a Flexi Grant for meeting the day-to-day expenses. The funds are reimbursed to the States/UTs after receipt of the expenditure statements from them. During the current financial year, the allocated budget of Rs. 200.00 crore have been fully utilized by the States/UTs.

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## Annexure

## State/UT-wise and Year-wise total number of Fast Track Special Courts sanctioned and operational during the last five years, under the FTSCs Scheme

| Sl. No.   | States/UTs        | Sanctioned 1023 FTSCs   | FY 2021- 22 (as on 31.03.2022)    | FY 2022- 23 (as on 31.03.2023)    | Sanctioned 790 FTSCs   | FY 2023- 24 (as on 31.03.2024)    | FY 2024- 25 (as on 31.03.2025)    | FY 2025- 26 (as on 31.01.2026)    |
|-----------|-------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Sl. No.   | States/UTs        | Sanctioned 1023 FTSCs   | Functional FTSCs including ePOCSO | Functional FTSCs including ePOCSO | Sanctioned 790 FTSCs   | Functional FTSCs including ePOCSO | Functional FTSCs including ePOCSO | Functional FTSCs including ePOCSO |
| 1         | A&N               | 1                       | 0                                 | 0                                 | 1                      | 0                                 | 0                                 | 0                                 |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh    | 18                      | 11                                | 17                                | 16                     | 16                                | 16                                | 16                                |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh | 3                       | 0                                 | 0                                 | 0                      | 0                                 | 0                                 | 0                                 |
| 4         | Assam             | 27                      | 16                                | 17                                | 17                     | 17                                | 17                                | 17                                |
| 5         | Bihar             | 54                      | 45                                | 45                                | 54                     | 46                                | 46                                | 54                                |
| 6         | Chandigarh        | 1                       | 1                                 | 1                                 | 1                      | 1                                 | 1                                 | 1                                 |
| 7         | Chhattisgarh      | 15                      | 15                                | 15                                | 15                     | 15                                | 15                                | 15                                |
| 8         | Delhi             | 16                      | 16                                | 16                                | 16                     | 16                                | 16                                | 16                                |
| 9         | Goa               | 2                       | 1                                 | 1                                 | 1                      | 1                                 | 1                                 | 1                                 |
| 10        | Gujarat           | 35                      | 35                                | 35                                | 35                     | 35                                | 35                                | 35                                |
| 11        | Haryana           | 16                      | 16                                | 16                                | 18                     | 16                                | 16                                | 18                                |
| 12        | Himachal Pradesh  | 6                       | 6                                 | 6                                 | 6                      | 6                                 | 6                                 | 6                                 |
| 13        | J&K               | 4                       | 4                                 | 4                                 | 4                      | 4                                 | 4                                 | 4                                 |
| 14        | Jharkhand         | 22                      | 22                                | 22                                | 0                      | 22                                | 22                                | 0                                 |
| 15        | Karnataka         | 31                      | 24                                | 31                                | 30                     | 31                                | 30                                | 30                                |
| 16        | Kerala            | 56                      | 28                                | 56                                | 55                     | 55                                | 55                                | 55                                |
| 17        | Madhya Pradesh    | 67                      | 67                                | 67                                | 67                     | 67                                | 67                                | 67                                |
| 18        | Maharashtra       | 138                     | 39                                | 38                                | 38                     | 15                                | 4                                 | 37                                |
| 19        | Manipur           | 2                       | 2                                 | 2                                 | 2                      | 2                                 | 2                                 | 2                                 |
| 20        | Meghalaya         | 5                       | 5                                 | 5                                 | 5                      | 5                                 | 5                                 | 5                                 |
| 21        | Mizoram           | 3                       | 3                                 | 3                                 | 3                      | 3                                 | 3                                 | 3                                 |
| 22        | Nagaland          | 1                       | 1                                 | 1                                 | 1                      | 1                                 | 1                                 | 1                                 |
| 23        | Odisha            | 45                      | 36                                | 45                                | 44                     | 44                                | 44                                | 44                                |
| 24        | Puducherry        | 0                       | 0                                 | 0                                 | 1                      | 1                                 | 1                                 | 1                                 |
| 25        | Punjab            | 12                      | 12                                | 12                                | 12                     | 12                                | 12                                | 12                                |
| 26        | Rajasthan         | 45                      | 45                                | 45                                | 45                     | 45                                | 45                                | 45                                |
| 27        | Tamil Nadu        | 14                      | 14                                | 14                                | 23                     | 14                                | 14                                | 20                                |
| 28        | Telangana         | 36                      | 33                                | 34                                | 36                     | 36                                | 36                                | 36                                |
| 29        | Tripura           | 3                       | 3                                 | 3                                 | 3                      | 3                                 | 3                                 | 3                                 |
| 30        | Uttar Pradesh     | 218                     | 218                               | 218                               | 218                    | 218                               | 218                               | 218                               |
| 31        | Uttarakhand       | 4                       | 4                                 | 4                                 | 7                      | 4                                 | 4                                 | 4                                 |
| 32        | West Bengal       | 123                     | 0                                 | 0                                 | 16                     | 3                                 | 6                                 | 8                                 |
|           | Total             | 1023                    | 722                               | 773                               | 790                    | 754                               | 745                               | 774                               |