Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Law and Justice addresses the establishment and functionality of courts for cases related to atrocities against women in India. As of June 30, 2025, 865 Fast Track Courts (FTCs) are functional, and 725 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including 392 exclusive POCSO (ePOCSO) Courts, are operational. The Central Government coordinates with States/UTs to operationalize remaining courts and is piloting the Nari Adalat project. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme for FTSCs has been extended until March 31, 2026.
Key Points / Main Content:
Fast Track Courts (FTCs):
* 865 FTCs are functional across various States/UTs as of June 30, 2025, dealing with heinous crimes and cases involving senior citizens, women, and children.
Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs):
* 725 FTSCs, including 392 exclusive POCSO (ePOCSO) Courts, are functional in 29 States/UTs as of June 30, 2025.
* FTSCs are dedicated to the time-bound trial and disposal of pending cases related to rape and crimes under the POCSO Act, 2012.
* FTSCs have disposed of 3,34,213 cases since the scheme's inception.
* The Centrally Sponsored Scheme for FTSCs has been extended up to March 31, 2026, with an outlay of Rs. 1952.23 cr., including Rs. 1207.24 cr. as Central Share from the Nirbhaya Fund.
* Funds are released on a CSS pattern (Central share: State share :: 60:40, 90:10) to cover salaries and day-to-day expenses.
* The government approved the establishment of 790 FTSCs, and efforts are underway to operationalize the remaining courts.
Nari Adalat:
* Nari Adalat, under the Mission Shakti program, is piloted as an alternative Grievance Redressal Mechanism at the Gram Panchayat level.
* Comprises groups of 7-9 women to resolve petty harassment, subversion, or curtailment of rights cases.
* Nari Adalat is being run in 50 Gram Panchayats each in Assam and Jammu & Kashmir.
* The Nari Adalat project is being piloted in 10 Gram Panchayats each of 16 States and 5 Gram Panchayats each of 2 UTs.
Impact Analysis:
Central Government:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and funding the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for FTSCs and coordinating with States/UTs to operationalize courts.
* Action Required: Continue to coordinate with State/UT Governments and High Courts for the operationalization of remaining FTSCs and allocate funds for the extended scheme period.
State/UT Governments and High Courts:
* Impact: Responsible for the establishment and operationalization of FTCs and FTSCs within their jurisdiction.
* Action Required: Coordinate with the Central Government and High Courts to ensure the full operationalization of the earmarked number of FTSCs and utilize allocated funds effectively.
Judicial Officers and Support Staff:
* Impact: Responsible for the efficient and timely disposal of cases in FTCs and FTSCs.
* Action Required: Continue to adjudicate cases related to women and children in a time-bound manner.
Women in Distress:
* Impact: Provided with specialized courts (FTSCs) for quicker justice in cases of rape and sexual offenses and alternative grievance redressal mechanisms (Nari Adalat) for petty issues.
* Action Required: Utilize the available resources and mechanisms for seeking justice and resolving grievances.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
* Impact: Overseeing the implementation of Mission Shakti and Nari Adalat initiatives for women's empowerment and grievance redressal.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and monitoring Mission Shakti and Nari Adalat programs to address women's issues effectively.
Key Entities Referenced
Fourteenth Finance Commission 2015-2020: An Indian Finance Commission whose recommendations led to the establishment of Fast Track Courts (FTCs).
Fast Track Courts (FTCs): Courts established to deal with cases of heinous crimes, cases involving senior citizens, women, and children.
Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2018: An act that led to the implementation of a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs).
Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs): Courts established for the time-bound trial and disposal of pending cases related to rape and crimes under the POCSO Act.
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012: An Indian law related to the protection of children from sexual offences.
Nirbhaya Fund: A fund used to finance initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security of women in India.
Mission Shakti: An integrated woman empowerment programme launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Nari Adalat: A pilot project under the Sambal sub-scheme of Mission Shakti, providing women with an alternate Grievance Redressal Mechanism at the Gram Panchayat level.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1025
ANSWERED ON – 25/07/2025
COURT FOR CASES RELATED TO WOMEN
1025. DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:
Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:
(a) the number of women courts set up to dispose the cases related to atrocities on women till date in
the Country, State/location-wise;
(b) whether the Government has any proposal to establish such courts in several other States; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
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) As per the recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission (2015-2020), Fast Track
Courts (FTCs) have been established for dealing with cases of heinous crimes, cases involving senior
citizens, women, children etc. As of 30.06.2025, 865 Fast Track Courts are functional in various States/UTs
as per details at Annexure-I.
Further, pursuant to the enactment of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 and in compliance
with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Suo Motu Writ (Criminal) No. 1/2019, the Central
Government has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the establishment of Fast Track
Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) Courts since October 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. 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/UT-wise list of FTSCs is at Annexure-II.
The Scheme has been extended twice, with the latest extension up to 31st March 2026, at an outlay
of Rs. 1952.23 cr. with Rs. 1207.24 cr. as Central Share to be incurred from Nirbhaya Fund. The funds are
1released on CSS pattern (Central share: State share :: 60:40, 90:10) to cover the salaries of 1 Judicial Officer
along with 7 support Staff and a Flexi Grant for meeting the day-to-day expenses.
Besides, as per information provided by Ministry of Women and Child Development, the
Government has launched ‘Mission Shakti’, an integrated woman empowerment programme, which is
designed to touch upon and address concerns and issues of women. ‘Nari Adalat’, a pilot project and
initiative is a component under Sambal sub-scheme of Mission Shakti, which aims at providing women
with an alternate Grievance Redressal Mechanism for resolving cases of petty nature (harassment,
subversion, curtailment of rights or entitlements) at Gram panchayat level. The component of ‘Nari Adalat’
being implemented in a phased manner, comprises group of 7-9 women, who are elected women
representatives of the panchayat and are of good social standing, education and repute. The Adalats are
mandated to help women in distress at the panchayat level in resolving smaller issues related to domestic
violence, and other gender-based violence by negotiation, mediation, and reconciliation with mutual
consent. They educate women about their constitutional and legal rights and assist them in availing the
services including legal aid, offered by the government. ‘Nari Adalat’ is being run in 50 Gram Panchayats
each in the State of Assam and UT of Jammu & Kashmir.
(b) & (c): The Government approved the establishment of 790 Fast Track Special Courts under the
Centrally Sponsored Scheme. However, number of FTSCs in certain States/UTs is less than the number
earmarked under the Scheme. The Central Government has been coordinating with such State/UT
Governments and High Courts for operationalization of the remaining courts. Further, ‘Nari Adalat’ project
is being piloted in 10 Gram Panchayats each of 16 States viz. Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala,
Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim,
Maharashtra, Bihar and Karnataka; and 5 Gram Panchayats each of 2 UTs viz. Dadra & Nagar Haveli and
Daman & Diu and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
*****
2Annexure-I
State/UT-wise Details of functional Fast Track Court (FTCs) as on 30.06.2025
Sl. Number of No. of Pending
Name of States/UTs
No. Functional FTCs cases
1 Andhra Pradesh 21 6915
2 Andaman & Nicobar island 0 0
3 Arunachal Pradesh 0 0
4 Assam 16 13713
5 Bihar 0 0
6 Chandigarh 0 0
7 Chhattisgarh 27 5816
8 Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Diu & Daman 0 0
9 Delhi 26 6625
10 Goa 4 1349
11 Gujarat 54 5316
12 Haryana 6 774
13 Himachal Pradesh 3 332
14 Jammu & Kashmir 8 1423
15 Jharkhand 41 9110
16 Karnataka 0 0
17 Kerala 0 0
18 Ladakh 0 0
19 Lakshadweep 0 0
20 Madhya Pradesh 0 0
21 Maharashtra 102 153896
22 Manipur 6 199
23 Meghalaya 0 0
24 Mizoram 2 259
25 Nagaland 0 0
26 Odisha 0 0
27 Puducherry 1 4458
28 Punjab 7 152
29 Rajasthan 0 0
30 Sikkim 2 17
31 Tamil Nadu 72 80244
32 Telangana 0 0
33 Tripura 2 1049
34 Uttar Pradesh 373 1057849
35 Uttarakhand 4 1103
36 West Bengal 88 87599
TOTAL 865 1438198
3Annexure-II
State/UT-wise details of functional Fast Track Special Courts including exclusive POCSO Courts
(As on 30.06.2025)
Functional Courts
FTSCs
Sl. No. of Pending
Name of States/UTs including Exclusive
No. cases
exclusive POCSO
POCSO
1 Andhra Pradesh 16 16 6303
2 Assam 17 17 6435
3 Bihar 46 46 18459
4 Chandigarh 1 0 214
5 Chhattisgarh 15 11 1739
6 Delhi 16 11 3560
7 Goa 1 0 155
8 Gujarat 35 24 5315
9 Haryana 18 14 4420
10 Himachal Pradesh 6 3 643
11 J&K 4 2 497
12 Karnataka 30 17 5220
13 Kerala 55 14 6292
14 Madhya Pradesh 67 56 10713
15 Maharashtra 2 1 290
16 Manipur 2 0 49
17 Meghalaya 5 5 1097
18 Mizoram 3 1 75
19 Nagaland 1 0 59
20 Odisha 44 23 9065
21 Puducherry 1 1 218
22 Punjab 12 3 1451
23 Rajasthan 45 30 4892
24 Tamil Nadu 14 14 5234
25 Telangana 36 0 8782
26 Tripura 3 1 224
27 Uttarakhand 4 0 1094
28 Uttar Pradesh 218 74 92700
29 West Bengal 8 8 5154
30 Jharkhand * 0 0 0
31 A&N Islands** 0 0 0
32 Arunachal Pradesh*** 0 0 0
TOTAL 725 392 200349
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 FTSCs Scheme vide letter dated 07.07.2025.
** 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.
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