Fast Track Special Courts - Objectives, Structure, Challenges, UPSC Notes

Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) are a targeted judicial initiative launched in response to the urgent need for expeditious justice in cases involving sexual offences—particularly rape and crimes against children under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Envisioned from the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act of 2018 and subsequently mandated by a Supreme Court suo motu order, FTSCs are meant to hasten legal proceedings, lower pendency, and revive people's confidence in the justice system.

Fast Track Special Courts are relevant to General Studies Paper II (Polity & Governance – Issues relating to the Judiciary, Government policies, and mechanisms for justice delivery). They are also significant for General Studies Paper I (Social Issues – Women and child safety) as they directly address gender justice and protection of vulnerable groups.

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Genesis and Legal Framework

The concept of fast-track courts in India dates back to recommendations by the 11th Finance Commission.But the current setup, Fast Track Special Courts, was formally inaugurated in October 2019 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. The scheme was introduced after the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act had been enacted and the Supreme Court ordered in Suo Motu Writ (Criminal) No. 1/2019. The scheme is controlled and managed by the Department of Justice under the Ministry of Law & Justice.

The scheme enjoys budgetary support from the Nirbhaya Fund, a non-lapsable corpus established in the aftermath of the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, aimed at bolstering women’s security and institutional capacity.

Read the Article - Fast Track Courts: Definition, Purpose and Related Links

Objectives of the Scheme

FTSCs serve multiple objectives:

• Offer speedier trials for heinous offenses, diminishing trauma for victims.
• Enhance deterrence by ensuring cases do not languish in the backlog.
• Promote judicial efficiency by specialized handling of specific categories of cases.
• Address gender justice by prioritizing crimes against women and children.

Structure and Scheme Details

Scale, Timeline & Performance Targets

Originally, the scheme envisaged establishing 1,023 courts (including exclusive e-POCSO courts) by March 2021. However, implementation posed challenges, and the target was revised to 790 courts. As of December 2024, 747 FTSCs, including 406 POCSO courts, were operational nationwide. These courts have collectively disposed of around 300,000 rape and POCSO cases, at a significantly higher efficiency rate than traditional courts.

The scheme has received multiple extensions: initially slated for one year, it was extended to March 2023, and again through March 2026. Each FTSC is expected to handle 41–42 cases per quarter, or approximately 165 cases annually, pointing toward a target-oriented approach to backlog reduction.

Read the Article - National Mission of Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms

Administrative Setup & Financials

Every Fast Track Special Courts has one judicial officer and seven supporting staff and is shared by the Centre (60%) and States (40%) in costs. For North-Eastern and Himalayan states, the share of the Centre goes up to 90%, with special facilities for Union Territories without legislatures. Flexigrants can be used for operational cost and child-friendly facilities.

The total financial commitment for the current phase stands at ₹1,952.23 crore, out of which the Central share is ₹1,207.24 crore, sourced from the Nirbhaya Fund.

Geographic Rollout & Disposal Performance

By mid-2025, approximately 725 FTSCs (including 392 e-POCSO courts) were functional in 29 States/UTs and had disposed of 334,213 cases since inception. These courts demonstrate a disposal rate of 9.51 cases per month, compared to just 3.26 in regular courts—highlighting their enhanced productivity

Performance Metrics

Fast Track Special Courts have reported as much as 96.28% disposal rates, placing them among the most effective court categories. FTSCs disposed of 85,595 out of a total of 88,902 cases in 2024 alone—more than 96% clearance.

Such statistics confirm that FTSCs meet their categorical imperative of case pendency reduction and timely dispensation of justice.

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Challenges & Critical Analysis

Despite their effectiveness, FTSCs face significant hurdles:

1. Infrastructure Gaps: Many courts are designated rather than newly constructed, with judges juggling multiple case categories, limiting effectiveness.
2. Geographical Disparities: States like West Bengal have lagged in setting up adequate numbers of FTSCs. Only six of the targeted 123 FTSCs are operational in the state.
3. Backlog and Pendency: FTSCs' efforts notwithstanding, an estimated 2.4 lakh POCSO cases were pending in January 2023—decades would be needed to dispose of them completely, figures indicated.
4. Low Conviction Rates: Speeding up trials at the cost of due process might compromise the latter; low conviction rates indicate systemic failure in evidence collection or presentation.
5. Human Resource Constraints: A constitutive shortage of judges and support staff hampers effectiveness, particularly in opposition-ruled states.

Recent Policy Developments

Maharashtra Government has taken proactive steps, setting up 27 FTSCs across the state (including Pune), to tackle over 6,000 pending POCSO cases, under the National Mission for Safety of Women. Plans are underway for a dedicated ₹9.71 crore Pocso court complex in Pune, featuring videography rooms, counselling facilities, judges' chambers, and more to expedite hearings with sensitivity.

These initiatives reflect acknowledgment of systemic gaps and represent an effort to move from designated to purpose-built judicial infrastructure.

Way Forward

To enhance efficacy and impact, several measures are recommended:

• Permanent Infrastructure: Build dedicated court complexes rather than repurposing existing facilities.
• Specialized Human Resources: Recruit and train judges and support staff with sensitivity to gender and child trauma.
• Support Services: Integrate counselling, victim-witness facilities, and child psychologists.
• Technology Integration: Digitally enable hearings, video testimonies, and streamline case tracking.
• Outcome Monitoring: Regular audits to ensure conviction rates improve alongside disposal rates.
• Inclusive Expansion: Encourage underperforming states to fulfill court establishment targets and leverage central funding.

Read the Article - National Mission of Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms

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Conclusion

Fast Track Special Courts represent a vital judicial reform for delivering speedy, sensitively administered justice in sexual offence cases. They have markedly reduced backlog and expedited outcomes compared to regular courts. However, to sustain progress, investments in infrastructure, training, equitable expansion, and judicial quality must keep pace—ensuring that justice is not only fast but also fair.