Repeated short-term extensions of centrally sponsored judicial infrastructure schemes reflect deeper federal and fiscal challenges. Discuss with reference to the FTSC/e-POCSO scheme.

Launched in October 2019 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for expeditious trial of rape and POCSO Act, 2012 cases, the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) scheme has been extended twice, and now runs only on a temporary extension up to 30 September 2026 [1]. Such stop-gap renewals reveal structural, not merely procedural, weaknesses in Centre-State justice delivery.

Fiscal challenges

• No assured multi-year funding: the last extension ran only to 31.03.2026, and the current one is expressly "temporary" — six months, not a fresh long-term sanction [1].
• Short horizons deter capital commitment: states hesitate to sanction permanent judicial posts, court halls and video-conferencing infrastructure for e-POCSO courts against uncertain central shares [1].
• Shortfall in operationalisation: 775 of the 790 sanctioned FTSCs are functional, indicating the last mile stalls where recurring expenditure is uncertain [1].

Federal challenges

• Split responsibility: the Centre funds and designs; states and High Courts appoint judges, staff and support persons — accountability diffuses across the two.
• Uneven coverage: courts function in 29 States/UTs, not all, reflecting differing state capacity and willingness to co-share costs [1].
• Information asymmetry: functional status is compiled from High Courts, so the Centre monitors a scheme it does not directly administer [1].

Consequences for justice

• Speedy trial is a facet of Article 21; episodic funding weakens the very promise of "fast track" for survivors of sexual violence, especially children.
• Temporary courts risk becoming ad hoc, with transfers of judges and case-transfer delays undermining continuity of trial.

Sustaining these courts needs a predictable, multi-year outlay with clear Centre-State cost-sharing, permanent cadre creation instead of tenure-based postings, and outcome-linked disbursal tied to disposal rates. Institutionalising the FTSC framework — rather than renewing it in half-year instalments — would align judicial infrastructure with the constitutional guarantee of speedy justice and SDG-16's promise of access to justice for all.