Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Law and Justice introduced a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) in October 2019 for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO (ePOCSO) Courts, to expedite trials for rape and POCSO Act cases. The scheme has been extended until March 31, 2026, with a financial outlay of ₹1952.23 crore, including a central share of ₹1207.24 crore from the Nirbhaya Fund. As of June 30, 2025, 725 FTSCs are functional in 29 States/UTs.
Key Points / Main Content:
Establishment and Purpose:
* FTSCs, including ePOCSO courts, were established following the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2018, and a Supreme Court order.
* These courts aim for the time-bound trial and disposal of pending cases related to rape and crimes under the POCSO Act, 2012.
Scheme Details:
* The scheme was introduced in October 2019 and has been extended twice, with the latest extension up to March 31, 2026.
* The total financial outlay is ₹1952.23 crore, with ₹1207.24 crore as the Central Share from the Nirbhaya Fund.
Current Status:
* As of June 30, 2025, 725 FTSCs are functional, including 392 exclusive POCSO courts, across 29 States/UTs.
* These courts have disposed of 3,34,213 cases since the scheme's inception.
Disposal Rates:
* FTSCs demonstrate a significantly higher disposal rate compared to regular courts.
* FTSCs achieve an average of 9.51 cases per court per month, compared to 3.26 cases in regular courts.
Funding Mechanism:
* The Nirbhaya Fund, a non-lapsable corpus fund, is utilized for projects improving women's safety and security.
* The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) appraises and recommends proposals for funding under the Nirbhaya Fund.
Fund Release and Pattern:
* The Department of Justice has released ₹1034.55 crore to States/UTs since the scheme's inception.
* Funds are released on a CSS pattern (60:40 or 90:10) to cover salaries and operational expenses.
* Funds are released on a reimbursement basis, based on the number of functional courts.
State/UT Participation:
* At the scheme's inception, FTSC allocation was based on a criterion of 65 to 165 pending cases per court.
* Jharkhand has exited the FTSC Scheme, while AN Islands has consented to join but has yet to operationalize any court.
* Arunachal Pradesh has opted out due to a low number of pending cases.
Impact Analysis:
High Courts:
*Impact:* The High Courts are responsible for providing inputs on the disposal rate of cases in FTSCs and regular courts.
*Action Required:* Continue monitoring and reporting the disposal rates of rape and POCSO Act cases in both FTSCs and regular courts.
State Governments/Union Territories:
*Impact:* States/UTs are responsible for the operationalization of FTSCs and utilizing the funds released by the central government.
*Action Required:* Ensure the smooth functioning of established FTSCs, utilize the released funds efficiently, and adhere to the CSS pattern for fund allocation.
Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD):
*Impact:* MoWCD serves as the nodal ministry for appraising and recommending proposals to be funded under the Nirbhaya Fund and monitoring sanctioned schemes.
*Action Required:* Continue appraising and recommending proposals for funding under the Nirbhaya Fund and monitoring the progress of sanctioned schemes related to FTSCs.
Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance:
*Impact:* Administers the Nirbhaya Fund, ensuring its proper utilization for projects designed to improve the safety and security of women.
*Action Required:* Oversee the allocation and utilization of the Nirbhaya Fund, ensuring it is used effectively for the establishment and operation of FTSCs.
Key Entities Referenced
Fast Track Special Courts: A centrally sponsored scheme established to expedite trials for cases related to rape and crimes under the POCSO Act.
POCSO Act, 2012: The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, which the Fast Track Special Courts are dedicated to addressing.
Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2018: Law that led to the introduction of the Fast Track Special Courts scheme.
Nirbhaya Fund: A dedicated fund set up by the Government of India to improve the safety and security of women, used to support the Fast Track Special Courts.
SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL: Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The nodal ministry responsible for appraising and recommending proposals and schemes to be funded under the Nirbhaya Fund.
Supreme Court of India: India's highest judicial body, which ordered for establishment of FTSCs.
Uttar Pradesh: State in India with the highest number of functional Fast Track Special Courts (218) and cumulative case disposals (91459).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3231
TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 08TH AUGUST, 2025
SCHEME OF FAST TRACK SPECIAL COURTS
3231. SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:
Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:
(a) the number of Fast Track Special Courts established since the Scheme’s inception, and their impact
on the disposal rates of rape and POCSO cases compared to regular courts; and
(b) the funding mechanisms that support the establishment and operation of these courts, and the manner
in which the Nirbhaya Fund has been utilised in this context?
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): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the establishment of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs),
including exclusive POCSO (ePOCSO) Courts came to be introduced in October, 2019, following the
enactment of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 and the order of Hon’ble Supreme Court [Suo
Motu Writ (Criminal) No. 1/2019]. 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. The Scheme has been extended twice, with the latest extension up to 31st March 2026, for
establishment of 790 courts. The financial outlay under the scheme is ₹ 1952.23 crore with ₹ 1207.24 crore
as Central Share to be incurred from Nirbhaya Fund on the CSS pattern.
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 details of functional Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) along with the number of cases disposed
since the inception of the Scheme are at Annexure-I.
As per the inputs received from the High Courts, the disposal rate of Rape and POCSO Act cases in
Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) appears to be significantly higher than in regular courts. While the
average disposal rate of Rape and POCSO Act cases in regular courts is estimated at 3.26 cases per court
per month, FTSCs achieve an average of 9.51 cases per court per month. This suggests an enhanced
efficiency in case disposal through FTSCs.
1(b): Following the Nirbhaya case of 16th December, 2012, the Government has set up a dedicated fund –
Nirbhaya Fund – which can be utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security
of women. It is a non-lapsable corpus fund, being administered by Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry
of Finance. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (M/o WCD) is the nodal Ministry to
appraise/recommend proposals and Schemes to be funded under Nirbhaya Fund. M/o WCD further has the
responsibility to review and monitor the progress of sanctioned schemes in conjunction with the Line
Ministries/Departments.
The FTSCs have been set up and operationalized under the Nirbhaya Fund. The Department has
released a sum of ₹ 1034.55 Crore to the States/UTs since its inception to ensure the smooth functioning of
the courts. The funds are released on CSS Pattern (Central share: State share :: 60:40, 90:10) to cover the
salaries of one Judicial Officer along with 7 support Staff and a Flexi Grant for meeting the day-to-day
expenses. The funds are released to the States/UTs on a reimbursement basis, determined by the number of
functional Courts in the State/UT concerned. The State/UT-wise details of Central Share of funds released,
since the inception of the Scheme are at Annexure-II.
*****
2Annexure-I
State/UT-wise details of functional Fast Track Special Courts including exclusive POCSO (ePOCSO)
Courts along with the cumulative disposal since the inception of the Scheme (as on 30.06.2025)
Cumulative Disposal since the inception of the
Functional Courts
Scheme
Sl.
State/UT FTSCs
No.
including ePOCSO FTSCs ePOCSO Total
ePOCSO
1 Andhra Pradesh 16 16 0 7487 7487
2 Assam 17 17 0 8943 8943
3 Bihar 46 46 0 17232 17232
4 Chandigarh 1 0 374 0 374
5 Chhattisgarh 15 11 1289 5139 6428
6 Delhi 16 11 760 1958 2718
7 Goa 1 0 82 34 116
8 Gujarat 35 24 3389 13227 16616
9 Haryana 18 14 2018 6069 8087
10 Himachal Pradesh 6 3 600 807 1407
11 J&K 4 2 144 167 311
12 Karnataka 30 17 5377 8654 14031
13 Kerala 55 14 18256 7946 26202
14 Madhya Pradesh 67 56 4920 27193 32113
15 Maharashtra 2 1 8727 12017 20744
16 Manipur 2 0 194 0 194
17 Meghalaya 5 5 0 733 733
18 Mizoram 3 1 199 70 269
19 Nagaland 1 0 65 3 68
20 Odisha 44 23 7218 13036 20254
21 Puducherry 1 1 0 162 162
22 Punjab 12 3 2785 2480 5265
23 Rajasthan 45 30 5830 13602 19432
24 Tamil Nadu 14 14 0 10199 10199
25 Telangana 36 0 8648 2731 11379
26 Tripura 3 1 252 237 489
27 Uttarakhand 4 0 1930 0 1930
28 Uttar Pradesh 218 74 43558 47901 91459
29 West Bengal 8 8 0 457 457
30 Jharkhand * 0 0 2777 6337 9114
31 A&N Islands** 0 0 0 0 0
32 Arunachal Pradesh*** 0 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 725 392 119392 214821 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.
3Annexure -II
State/UT-wise details of central share of funds released since the inception of the Scheme till 31.07.2025
Central Share of Funds
Sl.
States/ UTs Released
No.
(Rs. in crore)
1. Andhra Pradesh 1.80
2. Assam 31.34
3. Bihar 70.67
4. Chandigarh 0.19
5. Chhattisgarh 21.90
6. Delhi 13.27
7. Goa 1.41
8. Gujarat 41.24
9. Haryana 26.39
10. Himachal Pradesh 9.08
11. Jammu and Kashmir 8.58
12. Jharkhand* 20.49
13. Karnataka 36.11
14. Kerala 54.78
15. Madhya Pradesh 105.97
16. Maharashtra 47.60
17. Manipur 3.86
18. Meghalaya 7.14
19. Mizoram 7.32
20. Nagaland 1.76
21. Odisha 54.93
22. Puducherry 0.56
23. Punjab 16.90
24. Rajasthan 95.25
25. Tamil Nadu 28.92
26. Telangana 29.14
27. Tripura 5.28
28. Uttar Pradesh 281.40
29. Uttarakhand 9.10
30. West Bengal 1.82
31. A&N Islands** -
32. Arunachal Pradesh*** -
Total Amount released to States/ UTs 1034.19
Third Party Evaluation Cost 0.37
GRAND TOTAL 1034.56
* The State of Jharkhand has decided to exit the FTSC 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.
4