Parliament Question: Implementation of Fast Track Special Courts for Sexual Offences

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5654 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 27TH 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, year- wise 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.

****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 FY 2021- FY 2022- FY 2023- FY 2024- FY 2025- 22 (as on 23 (as on 24 (as on 25 (as on 26 (as on

31.03.2022) 31.03.2023) 31.03.2024) 31.03.2025) 31.01.2026) Sanctioned Sl. Sanctioned States/UTs 1023 Functional Functional Functional Functional Functional No. 790 FTSCs FTSCs FTSCs FTSCs FTSCs FTSCs FTSCs including including including including including ePOCSO ePOCSO ePOCSO ePOCSO ePOCSO 1 A&N 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 Andhra Pradesh 18 11 17 16 16 16 16 Arunachal 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pradesh 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 Himachal 12 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Pradesh 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