Fast Track Special Courts get five more years, 850 courts to hear rape and POCSO cases

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday extended the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) scheme by five years, to March 31, 2031. The scheme will now run 850 courts across the country, including exclusive courts for cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Here is what changes. The current network has 779 courts, 399 of them exclusive POCSO courts. The expansion will add courts and bring in more districts, with the choice guided by how many rape and POCSO cases are pending locally. The scheme will cover 29 states and Union Territories.

Why it matters: for a survivor and a family, a long trial means years of reliving the worst moment of their lives. Courts that handle only these cases are meant to move them faster, so hearings are not buried under other cases.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, briefing reporters after the meeting, said the Cabinet approved strengthening and extending the courts to deal with child abuse and rape cases. He said the government would enforce existing laws, bring new legislation where needed and reinforce systems for speedy justice, describing its approach to crimes against women and children as zero tolerance.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav welcomed the move in a post on X, calling it a historic step. He said fast-track courts are vital for clearing pending cases and that the extension should speed up their disposal.

The announcement did not include details on funding or timelines for setting up the new courts, so how quickly the extra capacity shows up on the ground remains to be seen.

Source: Asianet Newsable (ANI)

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