Fast Track Special Courts: Cabinet Extends Scheme to 2031, 850 Courts

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday, 4 November, approved a five-year extension of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts, which try rape and POCSO Act cases, with an outlay of Rs 3,788.04 crore. The scheme now runs from 2026-27 to 2030-31, and the number of courts will rise from 779 to 850, according to the Cabinet decision released by the government.

850 Courts, One Judge Each

Each Fast Track Special Court has a dedicated judicial officer, a special public prosecutor and six support staff. Some courts under the scheme deal exclusively with cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The government said more districts will be added based on how many rape and POCSO cases are pending there.

The Centre will pay Rs 2,353.15 crore from the Nirbhaya Fund. States and Union territories will bear the remaining Rs 1,434.89 crore.

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Launched on 2 October 2019

The scheme began on 2 October 2019 and now covers 29 states and Union territories. Deccan Chronicle reported that the courts have disposed of more than 4.02 lakh rape and POCSO cases since then. The Cabinet has extended it in blocks before. For earlier coverage of delays in rape trials, see our earlier report.

Funding Runs Until 31 March 2031

The extension covers the financial years 2026-27 to 2030-31, so the money is committed until 31 March 2031. Which new districts will get courts has not been announced; the government said the choice will follow pendency figures. States will have to fund and staff the added courts. More Cabinet decisions are listed in Daily Updates.

Source: Cabinet decision, PMIndia. Also based on reporting by Deccan Chronicle and Zee Business.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.