The Union Cabinet extends the Fast Track Special Courts Scheme for five years with Rs 3,788 crore funding, expanding courts to 850 for faster rape and POCSO trials.

The Union Cabinet has approved a major decision to strengthen the country’s judicial system by extending the Fast Track Special Courts Scheme for another five years. The initiative is aimed at ensuring faster trials and reducing the backlog of cases involving rape and offences against children under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

Under the extended programme, the government plans to increase the number of functional Fast Track Special Courts from the existing 779 to 850 across the country. The decision has been approved with a total financial allocation of Rs 3,788.04 crore, reflecting the Centre’s continued focus on improving access to timely justice for women and children.

Welcoming the Cabinet’s decision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of reducing delays in the judicial process. In a post on X on Wednesday, he said, “From less delay to faster justice!”

Rs 3,788 Crore Approved for Fast Track Special Courts Scheme

The Union Cabinet has approved a total financial outlay of Rs 3,788.04 crore for the next five years of the programme. The funding will be shared between the Central Government and states and Union Territories.

According to the approved financial arrangement, the Centre will contribute Rs 2,353.15 crore, while states and Union Territories will collectively provide Rs 1,434.89 crore.

The Central Government’s share will be financed through the Nirbhaya Fund. Financial support will continue to help states and Union Territories meet the operational expenses of these specialised courts.

The extended Fast Track Special Courts Scheme is expected to strengthen the justice delivery system by providing dedicated resources for the speedy disposal of pending rape and POCSO cases.

Number of Fast Track Courts to Increase From 779 to 850

One of the major highlights of the Cabinet approval is the expansion of the existing court network. The government plans to increase the number of functional Fast Track Special Courts from 779 to 850.

The allocation of additional courts will depend on the district-wise pendency of rape and POCSO cases. Districts facing a higher burden of pending cases are expected to receive priority while determining where additional courts are required.

Each Fast Track Special Court will have a dedicated judicial officer, a Special Public Prosecutor and six support staff members. This specialised arrangement is intended to ensure that sensitive cases receive focused attention and are handled without unnecessary delays.

The courts will also receive support through Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centres and specially designed courtroom facilities. These arrangements aim to provide a secure, comfortable and child-friendly environment for victims and witnesses during legal proceedings.

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How Will the Scheme Help Rape and POCSO Victims?

The extension of the programme is expected to benefit women and children awaiting justice in cases involving sexual offences.

Rape and POCSO cases often involve sensitive circumstances, making timely hearings and victim-friendly judicial facilities particularly important. Dedicated courts and specialised personnel can help ensure that such matters receive greater attention.

The Fast Track Special Courts Scheme aims to achieve the following objectives:

Reduce the backlog of pending rape and POCSO cases.

Ensure faster hearings and disposal of sensitive cases.

Improve access to justice for women and children.

Provide a safer environment for vulnerable witnesses.

Strengthen the judicial infrastructure across states and Union Territories.

The availability of dedicated prosecutors and judicial officers is also expected to improve coordination during court proceedings and help minimise avoidable delays.

Government to Monitor Performance of 850 Courts

The Department of Justice will supervise the implementation of the extended programme in coordination with state governments and Union Territory administrations.

The government will use the FTSC Dashboard to monitor court performance and track progress. Regular progress reports and expenditure statements will also be reviewed to assess how effectively the programme is being implemented.

The Centre will conduct consultations with High Courts and state governments to identify operational challenges and take corrective measures wherever necessary.

The expansion of the Fast Track Special Courts Scheme will be guided by the number of pending rape and POCSO cases in individual districts. This approach is intended to ensure that additional judicial resources reach areas where the requirement is greatest.

Fast Track Courts Have Already Disposed of Over 4 Lakh Cases

The Fast Track Special Courts initiative was originally launched on October 2, 2019, following the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 and directions issued by the Supreme Court.

The programme is currently operational in 29 states and Union Territories. Since its launch, the 779 functional courts, including 399 exclusive POCSO courts, have collectively disposed of 4,02,457 cases.

These figures highlight the role played by specialised courts in handling cases involving sexual offences against women and children.

With the latest five-year extension and the proposed expansion to 850 courts, the government aims to further strengthen this judicial mechanism and improve the pace of case disposal.

What the Cabinet’s Five-Year Extension Means

The latest Cabinet approval provides continued financial and administrative support to specialised courts dealing with rape and child sexual abuse cases.

The increase in the number of courts, dedicated judicial personnel and improved facilities for vulnerable witnesses are expected to support a more focused approach to delivering justice.

The extended Fast Track Special Courts Scheme will remain in operation for another five years, with implementation and performance monitored by the Department of Justice in coordination with state authorities.

The decision is expected to provide additional support to the judicial system and help address the large number of pending cases involving women and children across the country.