Central Govt To Set Up 1023 Fast Track Special Courts For Speedy Disposal of POCSO and Rape Cases

Ministry of Law and Justice has started a scheme to set up 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for speedy disposal of rape and POCSO cases.

Initiated under the National Mission for Safety of Women (NMSW), the scheme will set up 1023 FTSCs across the country based on the pendency of subject cases obtained from various High Courts (1,66,882 numbers as on 31.03.2018). It promises 'time-bound' trial and disposal of pending cases.

The scheme also states that as per the directions of the Supreme Court in suo moto matter, out of 1023 FTSCs, 389 Courts have been proposed to be set up exclusively for POCSO Act related cases in districts where pendency of such cases is more than 100.

While circulating the scheme to all the state governments and UT administrations, Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad urged the said governments to implement the scheme in order to create deterrence against such crimes.

In pursuance of the same, government data has revealed that out of total 31 States and UTs, so far, 24 have joined this scheme (Andhara Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, NCT of Delhi, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, UT of Chandigarh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh) for setting up of 792 numbers of FTSCs/ including 354 exclusive POCSO courts.

In addition to this, 216 numbers of POCSO courts have already been operationalized in 12 States under the scheme.

It is also stated by the Ministry that the Department of Justice is continuously working towards extending requisite assistance to the High Courts and State Governments in setting up of these Courts for prompt trial and disposal of cases.  

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