Central Government extends Fast Track Special Court scheme by another five years

The Central Government has taken a significant decision to make the justice process faster and more effective in serious cases of atrocities against women and children. According to a report by Aaj Tak, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of the Fast Track Special Court (FTSC) scheme for the next five years, i.e., until March 2031. The primary objective of this decision is to reduce delays in the hearing of cases related to rape and child sexual abuse and to ensure timely justice for victims.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while providing details of this decision after the Cabinet meeting, stated that the government is extremely serious about crimes against women and children and is committed to taking strict action in such cases. He clarified that the government is not only focusing on the implementation of existing laws but is also actively working towards framing new laws as per necessity.

A total of ₹3,788.04 crore will be spent on the extension of this scheme. In this financial provision, the Central Government will contribute ₹2,353.15 crore through the Nirbhaya Fund, while the remaining ₹1,434.89 crore will be allocated by State Governments and Union Territories. Under this scheme, a dedicated judicial officer, a special public prosecutor, and six assistant staff members will be appointed in each Fast Track Special Court to ensure that there are no obstacles in judicial proceedings.

As per the government's plan, the number of Fast Track Special Courts currently operating in the country will be increased from 779 to 850. This means that 71 new special courts will be established across the country. Districts with a higher number of cases under rape and POCSO will be given priority in this scheme. An online dashboard will be used to monitor the functioning of these courts. The Department of Justice of the Union Ministry of Law will manage this entire process in coordination with State Governments and will review the effectiveness of the scheme in consultation with High Courts.

An important aspect of this scheme is to provide a safe and sensitive environment for victims and witnesses. For this purpose, child-friendly facilities and special centers for recording sensitive witness statements will be developed in the courts. The aim of this facility is to ensure that victims can give their testimony with dignity and respect without any kind of mental pressure or fear. The government believes that these steps will reduce the difficulties faced by victims in the process of obtaining justice.

The Fast Track Special Court scheme was launched on 2 October 2019 in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court. Currently, this scheme is being implemented in 29 States and Union Territories of the country. According to government figures, since the launch of this scheme, more than 4.02 lakh cases related to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, have been disposed of by these special courts. Keeping this success in mind, the government has now decided to make this scheme more extensive.

Fast Track Court is a special arrangement of the Indian judiciary, whose objective is to quickly dispose of long-pending cases. Especially in serious crimes such as cases under rape and POCSO, the delay in justice is more painful for victims; keeping this in mind, such special courts were established. These courts are known to complete hearings faster compared to regular courts.