Continuation of scheme of fast track special courts approved

Last Updated05/08/2021

This will lead to 1,023 fast track special courts, including 389 exclusive POCSO courts, continue as a centrally sponsored scheme for another two years till 2023.
The scheme was launched on October 2, 2019.
28 out of 31 states and union territories have started the scheme.

Stricter laws were introduced through “the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018” to prevent crimes of rape and gang rape of minor girls below the age of twelve and similar heinous crimes against women.
This led to the establishment of the fast track special courts under the said scheme by Department of Justice.
These are dedicated courts expected to ensure swift dispensation of justice.
They have a better clearance rate as compared to the regular courts and hold speedy trials.
Besides providing quick justice to the victims, it strengthens the deterrence framework for sexual offenders.

A total of 1023 FTSCs will be set up under the Scheme out of which 389 FTSCs will exclusively handle POCSO Act cases as per directions of the Hon’ble Apex Court.
The remaining 634 FTSCs will deal with either rape cases or both rape and POCSO Act cases depending on the pendency and requirement.
Each FTSC is expected to dispose off, 41-42 cases in each quarter and at least 165 cases in a year.
Earlier in 2021, a Parliamentary panel on Home Affairs had noted that only 597 fast track courts out of the total 1,023 had been set up in the country and expressed its concern at the delay in implementing the scheme.

POCSO Act was enacted in 2012 as a special Act to deal with child sexual abuse.
It is a gender neutral law with regard to child victims and the accused, who can be booked under it, unlike Section 354 of the IPC that is specifically for woman victims.
The Act also sets up procedures to make the criminal justice system child-friendly and prevent re-traumatisation.