Parliament Question: Fast Track Courts and Gram Nyayalayas

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3424 ANSWERED ON – 08/08/2025 FAST TRACK COURTS AND GRAM NYAYALAYAS †3424. SHRI BIPLAB KUMAR DEB: Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state: (a) whether a large number of cases are pending in various courts despite initiatives such as the setting up of Fast Track Courts and Gram Nyayalayas across the country; (b) if so, the number of cases disposed of as well as those pending to date since the establishment of Fast Track Courts and Gram Nyayalayas; (c) the number of cases disposed of by Fast Track Courts and Gram Nyayalayas in the State of Tripura in the last five years; and (d) whether the Government proposes to establish more courts and appoint additional judges to expedite the clearance of pending cases, 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 information available on the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), the details of pending cases in the Supreme Court, High Courts and subordinate Courts as on 28.07.2025 are as under: Sl. Name of Court Pending Cases No. 1. Supreme Court 86,844 2. High Courts 63,32,256 3. District and Subordinate Courts 4,66,69,624 (b) and (c): The Fast Track Courts (FTCs) for providing speedy justice are set up by the States/UTs, as per their need and resources, in consultation with their respective High Courts. The 14th Finance Commission had recommended for setting up of 1800 Fast Track Courts (FTCs) during the period 2015- 2020 for speedy trial of cases of heinous crime, civil cases related to women, children, senior citizens, disabled persons, persons infected with terminal ailments etc. and property related cases pending for more than 5 years. As per data uploaded by the High Courts on MIS portal, 865 FTCs are functional 1across 21 States/UTs with a pendency of 14,38,198 cases as on 30.06.2025. These courts have disposed of 33,92,281 cases during the period from January 2023 to June 2025, including 579 cases in the State of Tripura. 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 with a pendency of 2,00,349 cases. These courts have disposed of 3,34,213 cases since the inception of the Scheme till 30.06.2025, including 489 cases in the State of Tripura. Gram Nyayalayas have been established under the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 with the objective of providing accessible, affordable, and expeditious justice to the citizens at the grassroots level, particularly in rural areas. As per available information, 488 Gram Nyayalayas have been notified across 15 States, out of which 331 are currently operational in 11 States. As per data available on the Gram Nyayalaya Portal, 4,11,071 cases have been disposed of by the Gram Nyayalayas during the period from December, 2020 to June, 2025. However, no Gram Nyayalaya is notified or functional in the State of Tripura. (d): At present there is no complete proposal pending with the Government to establish any High Court. Appointment of the Judges of the Constitutional Courts is a continuous, integrated and collaborative process between the Executive and the Judiciary. It requires consultation and approval from various constitutional authorities both at state and central level. Appointments of judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts are governed by Articles 124, 217 and 224 of the Constitution. The procedure for appointment of Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts is laid down in the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) prepared in 1998 pursuant to the Supreme Court Judgment of October 6, 1993 (Second Judges case) read with their Advisory Opinion of October 28, 1998 (Third Judges case). As per the MoP, initiation of proposal for appointment of Judges in the Supreme Court vests with the Chief Justice of India and initiation of proposal for appointment of Judges in the High Courts vests with the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court. Only those persons are appointed as Judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court who are recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium. The primary responsibility of setting up of District and Subordinate Courts falls within the domain of the State/UT in consultation with the respective High Courts, as per its need and availability of resources. As regards the recruitment of judges and staff in courts, filling up of vacant positions of the judicial officers in District and Subordinate courts is the responsibility of the State Governments and the concerned High Courts. As per the Constitutional framework, in exercise of powers conferred under proviso to Article 309 read with Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution, the respective State Government in consultation with the High Court frames the rules and regulations regarding the appointment and recruitment of Judicial Officers. Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order passed in January 2007 in the Malik Mazhar Sultan case, has inter-alia, stipulated certain timelines, which are to be followed by the States and the respective High Courts for recruitment of judges in District and Subordinate Courts. *** 2