FAST TRACK SPECIAL COURTS

1. At a Glance

• Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) are dedicated trial courts for time-bound disposal of rape and POCSO Act, 2012 cases, run as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice [1][2].
• Funded via the Nirbhaya Fund (Central share), the scheme is a direct administrative response to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 and Supreme Court directions in Suo Motu W.P.(Crl.) No. 1/2019 [1][2].
• High examinable salience: intersects GS-II (judiciary, women & children), GS-I (social issues), and current affairs (Nirbhaya Fund, POCSO).

2. Why in the News

• PIB (13 Feb 2026): Ministry of Law & Justice reported 54 FTSCs functional in Gujarat (including 24 exclusive POCSO courts); disposal — 3,493 (2023), 3,562 (2024), 3,494 (2025) [3].
• Scheme is in its terminal year (extension up to 31 March 2026) — relevant for likely continuation/review questions [1][2].

3. Background & Evolution

• 2015: 14th Finance Commission urged States to set up Fast Track Courts for sensitive cases [2].
• 2018: Enactment of Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 — enhanced punishment (including death) for rape of minors, necessitating dedicated forums [1].
• 25 July 2019: Supreme Court order in Suo Motu W.P.(Crl.) No. 1/2019 directed exclusive POCSO courts in districts with >100 pending POCSO cases [1].
• Oct 2019: CSS for FTSCs launched (initially 1 year, 1,023 courts targeted) [1].
• 2021: First extension (2 years, till 31 March 2023) [2].
• 2023: Cabinet approved 2nd extension (3 years, 01.04.2023–31.03.2026) with outlay ₹1,952.23 cr [2].

4. Core Static Facts

• Nodal body: Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice [1].
• Statutory backing: POCSO Act 2012; Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2018; IPC/BNS rape provisions [1].
• Target courts: 790 (revised); exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) courts for districts with >100 pending POCSO cases [1][2].
• Outlay (2023–26): ₹1,952.23 cr — Centre ₹1,207.24 cr (from Nirbhaya Fund) + States ₹744.99 cr [2].
• Operational status (30 Sep 2025): 773 FTSCs including 400 e-POCSO courts in 29 States/UTs [2].
• Disposal efficiency: FTSCs ~9.51 cases/court/month vs 3.26 in regular courts [1].
• Cumulative disposal: 3,34,213 cases since inception (as of 30.06.2025) [1].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Legal / Constitutional

• Operates within concurrent jurisdiction; Article 247 (Parliament's power to establish additional courts) and Article 21 (speedy trial as fundamental right — Hussainara Khatoon) form the constitutional anchor.
• POCSO §35 mandates trial completion within 1 year; FTSCs are the implementation vehicle [1].

Administrative / Federal

• CSS model: Centre funds, High Courts + State Govts operationalise courts (judges, staff, infrastructure) [2].
• Bottlenecks: shortage of public prosecutors, forensic delays, vacancies — disposal varies sharply across States [1].

Social / Gender

• Targets two most vulnerable victim groups — women survivors of rape and child victims of sexual offences [1].
• Aligns with Nirbhaya Fund (2013, post-Dec 2012 Delhi gang-rape), reinforcing victim-centric justice [2].

Governance

• Real-time monitoring via Department of Justice portal; performance-linked release of Central share [2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• 13 Feb 2026 (PIB): Gujarat — 54 FTSCs functional; 35 under CSS incl. 24 e-POCSO; 2025 disposal 3,494 cases [3].
• 30 Sep 2025: 773 FTSCs / 400 e-POCSO functional across 29 States/UTs [2].
• 30 Jun 2025: Cumulative disposal crossed 3.34 lakh cases [1].
• Scheme scheduled to sunset on 31 March 2026 — continuation under review [2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• FTSC scheme launched in October 2019 [1].
• Funded under Nirbhaya Fund (not Consolidated Fund directly) [2].
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Law & Justice (Dept. of Justice) — NOT Ministry of Home Affairs or WCD [1].
• Target: 1,023 courts initially; revised to 790 [1][2].
• Originating SC case: Suo Motu W.P.(Crl.) No. 1/2019 (25 July 2019) [1].
• Trigger statute: Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 [1].
• POCSO Act enacted in 2012 [1].
• Outlay 2023–26: ₹1,952.23 crore; Central share ₹1,207.24 cr [2].
• e-POCSO courts mandated for districts with >100 pending POCSO cases [1].
• FTSC monthly disposal rate: 9.51 cases/court vs 3.26 in regular courts [1].
• As of 30 Sep 2025: 773 FTSCs in 29 States/UTs [2].
• Latest extension valid up to 31 March 2026 [2].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Government policies & interventions for vulnerable sections; structure & functioning of Judiciary.
• GS-I: Role of women; social empowerment.
• Probable stems: 1. "FTSCs have improved disposal but not deterrence. Critically examine." 2. "Evaluate the role of Centrally Sponsored Schemes in operationalising judicial reform, using FTSCs as a case study." 3. "Speedy trial is a facet of Article 21. How far have FTSCs and POCSO §35 realised this guarantee?"

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• POCSO Act, 2012 — substantive law applied in e-POCSO courts.
• Nirbhaya Fund (2013) — funding source.
• Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 — statutory trigger.
• BNS, 2023 (Sec. 63–73) — replaces IPC rape provisions.
• Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 — comparable access-to-justice CSS.
• National Mission for Justice Delivery & Legal Reforms — parent umbrella.
• Article 21 — Hussainara Khatoon (1979) — speedy trial jurisprudence.
• e-Courts Mission Mode Project Phase III — digital judicial infrastructure.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrong ministry: NOT MHA or WCD — it is Ministry of Law & Justice.
• FTSC vs Fast Track Court (FTC): FTCs (post 2000, 11th FC) handle general pendency; FTSCs are exclusively for rape + POCSO under the 2019 CSS.
• Funding source: Central share is from Nirbhaya Fund, not general budgetary grants.
• Origin: Driven by 2018 Criminal Law Amendment + SC suo motu (2019), not by the Justice Verma Committee directly.
• e-POCSO ≠ all FTSCs: Only a subset (~400 of 773) are exclusive POCSO courts.