The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Fast Track Courts (FTCs), specifically Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), for a further three years. This decision aims to ensure timely justice, especially for victims of sexual offenses across India.
Key Highlights of Fast Track Courts Extension
- It has been extended till 31st March 2026 with financial implications of over 1952 crore rupees.
- The Central share is to be funded from Nirbhaya Fund.
- Thirty States and Union Territories have participated in the Scheme, operationalizing 761 FTSCs, including 414 exclusive POCSO Courts.
- Over one lakh 95 thousand cases have been disposed off so far.
- These courts support State and UT Government efforts to provide timely justice to victims of sexual offenses even in remote and far-flung areas.
What Are Fast Track Courts?
- It is a centrally funded scheme by the Ministry of Law, Ministry of Law and Justice to expedite priority cases.
- Fast track courts (FTCs) were first recommended by the Eleventh Finance Commission in 2000 “to substantially bring down, if not eliminate, pendency in the district and subordinate courts over the next five years”.
- Following the report, the Centre created 1,734 additional courts in different states for a period of five years.
- In 2011, the central government stopped funding fast-track courts.
- Following the December 2012 Gangrape and murder case, the Union Government set up a ‘Nirbhaya Fund’, amended the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and set up fast-track Mahila Courts (a Special Court).
- Some other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar etc. also set up FTCs for rape cases thereafter.
Objectives of Fast Track Courts
- The FTSCs, designed as dedicated courts, are expected to ensure swift dispensation of justice, offering quick relief to victims while strengthening the deterrent framework for sexual offenders.
- The scheme reflects the nation’s commitment to ending sexual and gender-based violence as well as substantially reducing pending cases of rape and POCSO Act.
- It is also aimed at ensuring swift access to justice for victims of sexual crimes through improved facilities and expedited trials
FTSC Composition and Staffing
- Each FTSC will have one Judicial Officer and seven staff members.
- States/UTs may engage judicial officers and court staff on contractual basis where sufficient manpower is not available.
- Services of retired judicial officers with relevant experience may also be engaged to dispose of cases in the FTSCs.
Significance of Fast Track Courts
- Special courts are authorized to hear only certain cases and are considered to solve problems in the Indian legal system.
- First, Indian courts suffer from delays and congestion.
- Second, ordinary courts lack the infrastructure required by certain laws, such as courtrooms for vulnerable witnesses under the POCSO Act, which enables these courts to be set up on a special basis (Smruti Tukaram Badade v. State of Maharashtra and Anr., 2022).
- Recently, politicians, legislators, and even civil society have routinely used special courts to solve problems in the judicial system.
- In addition, it has become common for parliament and the executive to consider the creation of special courts under a range of new legislation – from social laws to insolvency law.
Advantages Of Fast Track Courts
- Lessening of the general caseload burden: The objective with which the fast track courts were established has been very beneficiary for judiciary as it has solved over a million cases and has reduced the case load from other courts.
- Promotes specialization and professionalization: It has helped employ thousands of people from different fields, it also avails retired judges from high courts and district courts. The establishment of fast track courts has promoted the specialization of a category of law.
- Improves judicial efficiency and effectiveness: By the proper use of judiciary and by speedy trial and judgment, fast track courts boost the efficiency of the judiciary.
- High case clearance rate and speedy trial rate: Fast Track courts in India have the highest case disposal rate due to its speedy trial and judgment. And hence it is efficient in solving cases in a bound time.
- Guarantees consistency and predictability: Fast track courts have high performance rate and are stable and steady. It renders justice with high accuracy
Conclusion
The continuation and expansion of fast track courts reflect the Indian government’s commitment to providing timely and efficient justice, especially for victims of sexual offenses. By ensuring the swift disposal of cases, these courts are playing a crucial role in reducing the backlog in the judicial system and providing relief to victims of heinous crimes.
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