Executive Summary:
The Department of Justice is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO (ePOCSO) Courts, to expedite rape cases and cases under the POCSO Act. The scheme has been extended until March 31, 2026, with a total outlay of Rs. 1952.23 cr, including Rs. 1207.24 cr from the Nirbhaya Fund. As of June 30, 2025, 725 FTSCs, including 392 exclusive POCSO Courts, are functional across 29 States/UTs, and have disposed of 3,34,213 cases since the scheme's inception.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Scheme Overview:**
* Centrally Sponsored Scheme for FTSCs, including ePOCSO Courts.
* Aims for the expeditious disposal of rape cases and cases under the POCSO Act.
* Extended until March 31, 2026.
* Total outlay of Rs. 1952.23 cr, with Rs. 1207.24 cr as the Central share from the Nirbhaya Fund.
* **FTSC Status:**
* 725 FTSCs are functional, including 392 exclusive POCSO Courts, in 29 States/UTs as of June 30, 2025.
* 3,34,213 cases disposed of since the scheme's inception. (State/UT-wise details in Annexure I)
* **Case Disposal:**
* Average time taken by FTSCs to dispose of cases varies. (State/UT-wise details in Annexure II)
* Factors affecting case disposal: infrastructure, complexity, evidence, stakeholder cooperation, adjournments, and monitoring.
* **Funding:**
* Funds released on a CSS pattern (Central share: State share :: 60:40, 90:10).
* Covers salaries for 1 Judicial Officer and 7 support staff per court, plus a Flexi Grant.
* Rs. 1034.55 Crore released to States/UTs since the scheme's inception. (Year-wise and State/UT-wise details in Annexure III)
* **Government Initiatives:**
* CSS for Development of Judicial Infrastructure to build court halls, residential units, and digital computer rooms. Court halls increased by 41.43% and residential units increased by 94.40% since 2014.
* Regular review meetings via Video Conferencing with States/UTs and High Courts.
* Letters from the Minister of Law & Justice to Chief Ministers and Chief Justices regarding timely action under the POCSO Act and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
* Performance of FTSCs is a regular agenda item in Inter-State Zonal Council meetings.
* **Recruitment:**
* State Governments and High Courts are responsible for filling vacant judicial officer positions, including in FTSCs.
* Appointments are governed by state rules and regulations, following Supreme Court timelines.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for infrastructure development and judicial officer recruitment.
* *Action Required:* Ensure timely recruitment of judges and staff, and provide necessary infrastructure for FTSCs.
* **High Courts:**
* *Impact:* Oversee the functioning and performance of FTSCs.
* *Action Required:* Monitor case disposal rates, provide data on average time taken for case resolution, and ensure adherence to Supreme Court timelines for judicial appointments.
* **Judicial Officers and Court Staff:**
* *Impact:* Directly involved in the expeditious disposal of cases in FTSCs.
* *Action Required:* Efficiently manage cases, adhere to timelines, and cooperate with stakeholders to minimize delays.
* **Department of Justice:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing and monitoring the Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
* *Action Required:* Continue releasing funds, conduct review meetings, and coordinate with States/UTs and High Courts to improve the performance of FTSCs.
Key Entities Referenced
Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs): Special courts established for the expeditious disposal of rape cases and cases under the POCSO Act.
Nirbhaya Fund: Fund used to finance the establishment and operation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs).
POCSO Act: Refers to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, related to cases handled by the FTSCs.
High Courts: The primary source of information and oversight for the functioning of FTSCs in various States/UTs.
Andhra Pradesh: One of the States/Union Territories in India where Fast Track Special Courts are functional.
Uttar Pradesh: One of the States/Union Territories in India where Fast Track Special Courts are functional.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023: A law that the Minister of Law and Justice urged compliance with, regarding timelines for cases under the POCSO Act.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS): A scheme implemented by the Department of Justice for the development of judicial infrastructure, including FTSCs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
****
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2215
ANSWERED ON – 01/08/2025
FAST TRACK COURTS
2215. SHRI KESINENI SIVANATH:
Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) set up across the country under the Nirbhaya
Fund, State-wise;
(b) the number of cases that have been filed and resolved through the FTSCs since their inception, State-
wise;
(c) the details regarding the average time taken by these FTSCs to dispose of the cases brought before
them;
(d) the amount of funds allocated, approved and disbursed for setting up and operationalizing these
FTSCs, State-wise and year-wise;
(e) whether the Government has taken any steps to strengthen infrastructure, fill vacancies and ensure
the timely disposal of cases in these FTSCs; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
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): The Department of Justice has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the
establishment of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) Courts
for expeditious disposal of rape cases and cases under POCSO Act. The Scheme has been extended
twice, with the latest extension up to 31st March 2026, for the establishment of 790 courts, at an outlay
of Rs.1952.23 cr. with Rs.1207.24 cr. as Central share to be incurred from Nirbhaya Fund.
As per the information received from the High Courts, 725 FTSCs, including 392 exclusive
POCSO (e-POCSO) Courts are functional in 29 States/UTs (as on 30.06.2025). These Courts have
disposed of 3,34,213 cases since the inception of the Scheme. The State/UT-wise details of functional
FTSCs, including e-POCSO Courts along with the number of cases instituted and disposed of by these
Courts since their inception, are at Annexure-I.
(c): As per information received from the High Courts, the State/UT-wise details regarding average
time taken by FTSCs to dispose of cases are at Annexure -II. There are several reasons that lead to
1delay 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 and lack of adequate arrangement to monitor,
track and bunch cases for hearing.
(d): Under the Scheme, the funds are released on CSS pattern (Central share: State share :: 60:40,
90:10) to cover the salaries of 1 Judicial Officer along with 7 support Staff per Court and a Flexi Grant
for meeting the day-to-day expenses of the Court. The Department has released a sum of Rs.1034.55
Crore to the States/UTs since inception of the Scheme. The year-wise details of budget allocated and
funds released by the Central government are as under:
(Rs.in Crore)
Financial Year Budget Allocated Funds released
2019-20 140.00 140.00
2020-21 160.00 160.00
2021-22 180.00 134.55*
2022-23 200.00 200.00
2023-24 200.00 200.00
2024-25 200.00 200.00
2025-26 200.00 -
TOTAL 1034.55
*Less funds were released against budget allocated in 2021-22 due to COVID lockdown and issues related to the
implementation of PFMS
The funds are reimbursed to the States/UTs on the basis of the number of functional courts in the
State/UT concerned. The State/UT-wise and year-wise details of Central funds released since the
inception of the scheme are at Annexure-III.
(e) and (f): The Central Government has taken several steps to support infrastructure and improve case
disposal in FTSCs:
i. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Judicial Infrastructure supplements
efforts of the States in building court halls, residential units, lawyers' halls, toilet complexes, and
digital computer rooms for District and Subordinate Courts including FTSCs. From 15,818 court
halls and 10,211 residential units in the year 2014, the number of available court halls and
residential units have increased to 2,2372 (41.43% increase) and 19,851 (94.40% increase)
respectively. In addition, 3,128 court halls and 2,772 residential units are under construction.
ii. In order to strengthen functioning of FTSCs, regular review meetings are held via Video
Conferencing with the States/UTs and the High Courts. The Hon’ble Minister of Law & Justice
has written to Hon’ble Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of the High Courts regarding need for
timely action and strict compliance with timelines under the POCSO Act and 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.
2As regards the recruitment of judges and staff in FTSCs, filling up of vacant positions of the
judicial officers in District and Subordinate courts (including FTSCs) 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.
****
3Annexure-I
State/UT-wise details of functional Fast Track Special Courts including exclusive POCSO Courts along
with the number of cases instituted and disposed since its inception (As on 30.06.2025)
Functional Courts
Cases Cumulative
FTSCs
Sl. Instituted since Disposal since
State/UT including Exclusive
No. the inception of the inception of
exclusive POCSO
the Scheme the Scheme
POCSO
1 Andhra Pradesh 16 16 13790 7487
2 Assam 17 17 15378 8943
3 Bihar 46 46 35691 17232
4 Chandigarh 1 0 588 374
5 Chhattisgarh 15 11 8167 6428
6 Delhi 16 11 6278 2718
7 Goa 1 0 271 116
8 Gujarat 35 24 21931 16616
9 Haryana 18 14 12507 8087
10 Himachal Pradesh 6 3 2050 1407
11 J&K 4 2 808 311
12 Karnataka 30 17 19251 14031
13 Kerala 55 14 32494 26202
14 Madhya Pradesh 67 56 42826 32113
15 Maharashtra 2 1 21034 20744
16 Manipur 2 0 243 194
17 Meghalaya 5 5 1830 733
18 Mizoram 3 1 344 269
19 Nagaland 1 0 127 68
20 Odisha 44 23 29319 20254
21 Puducherry 1 1 380 162
22 Punjab 12 3 6716 5265
23 Rajasthan 45 30 24324 19432
24 Tamil Nadu 14 14 15433 10199
25 Telangana 36 0 20161 11379
26 Tripura 3 1 713 489
27 Uttarakhand 4 0 3024 1930
28 Uttar Pradesh 218 74 184159 91459
29 West Bengal 8 8 5611 457
30 Jharkhand * 0 0 13324 9114
31 A&N Islands** 0 0 0 0
32 Arunachal Pradesh*** 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 725 392 538772 334213
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 FTSC Scheme vide letter dated 07.07.2025. However,
the cumulative disposal of 9,114 cases since the inception of the Scheme up to May 2025 continues
to be included in the overall disposal figures reported under the FTSC Scheme.
** 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.
4Annexure-II
Statement showing the average time taken by Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for
disposal of cases related to Rape and the POCSO Act
Average Time taken for Trial in FTSCs
Sl. No. State/UT (in days)
RAPE POCSO
1 Andhra Pradesh - 257
2 Assam - 940
3 Bihar - 941
4 Chandigarh 760 425
5 Chhattisgarh 365 300
6 Delhi 1562 1717
7 Goa 730 365
8 Gujarat 1716 869
9 Haryana 605 545
10 Himachal Pradesh 407 462
11 Jammu & Kashmir 1095 730
12 Jharkhand 730 545
13 Karnataka 910 724
14 Kerala 999 594
15 Madhya Pradesh 365 395
16 Maharashtra - 575
17 Manipur 1395 1305
18 Meghalaya - 910
19 Mizoram - 1155
20 Nagaland - 1185
21 Odisha 439 560
22 Puducherry - 180
23 Punjab 650 530
24 Rajasthan 1028 732
25 Tamil Nadu - 466
26 Telangana 461 408
27 Tripura 2097 871
28 Uttarakhand 508 517
29 Uttar Pradesh 606.41 1116.27
30 West Bengal - 910
31 A&N Islands - -
32 Arunachal Pradesh - -
*Source: As per information received from the High Courts
5Annexure-III
The State/UT-wise details of Central Share of funds released since the inception of the FTSCs Scheme
(Rs. in Crore)
Amount Amount Amount Amount Amount Amount
Sl.
State/UT released released in released in released in released in released in
No.
in 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
1 Andhra Pradesh 1.8 0 0 0 0 0
2 Assam 2.85625 1.86875 3.375 6.7325 5.528655 10.975085
3 Bihar 2.025 15.26255 20.25 11.895 9.874035 11.35878
4 Chandigarh 0.1875 0 0 0 0 0
5 Chhattisgarh 3.375 3.375 4.259 3.93 3.25215 3.70395
6 Delhi 3.6 0 0 4.2225 3.46896 1.97544
7 Goa 0.225 0 0 0.47255 0.21681 0.49386
8 Gujarat 7.875 7.875 0 9.26 7.58835 8.64255
9 Haryana 3.6 3.6 3.6 4.2225 3.46896 7.90176
10 Himachal Pradesh 1.0125 1.51875 0 2.375 1.95129 2.22237
11 Jammu & Kashmir 0.5625 0 2.635 1.58 2.32086 1.48158
12 Jharkhand 4.95 4.95 0 5.825 4.76982 0
13 Karnataka 6.975 0 6.635 7.3925 7.45091 7.65483
14 Kerala 8.4 0 0 7.405 25.39836 13.58115
15 Madhya Pradesh 15.075 15.075 26.175 17.72 15.37627 16.54431
16 Maharashtra 31.05 0 0 8.72 6.59259 1.23465
17 Manipur 0.675 0.675 0.3375 0.785 0.65043 0.74079
18 Meghalaya 1.6875 0 0 1.977 1.626075 1.851975
19 Mizoram 1.0125 1.0125 2.02625 1.18 0.975645 1.111185
20 Nagaland 0.3375 0.3375 0 0.3875 0.325215 0.370395
21 Odisha 5.4 1.3 16.2 11.64 9.52128 10.86492
22 Puducherry 0 0 0.1125 0 0.195975 0.24693
23 Punjab 2.7 0 0 4.312 3.95972 5.92632
24 Rajasthan 5.85 14.4 19.745 11.895 21.1383 22.2237
25 Tamil Nadu 3.15 3.15 2.59 6.6225 6.496035 6.91404
26 Telangana 8.1 0 0 8.9875 7.60671 4.44474
27 Tripura 1.0125 1.0125 0 1.1725 0.975645 1.111185
28 Uttarakhand 2.7 0 2.092 1.53 1.30086 1.48158
29 Uttar Pradesh 13.80625 84.29375 24.525 57.68 47.26458 53.83074
30 West Bengal 0 0 0 0 0.70551 1.111185
31 A&N Islands 0 0 0 0 0 0
32 Arunachal Pradesh 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 140.00 159.706 134.5573 199.92155 200.00 200.00
Third Party
0.29 0.07788
Evaluation Cost
GRAND TOTAL 140.00 160.00 134.55 200.00 200.00 200.00
Note: For the current FY 2025–26, an allocation of ₹200 crore has been made; however, no funds have been
released so far.
6