Fast Track Special Courts provide speedy justice to victims of rape

New Delhi [India], August 25 : Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) across India provide speedy justice to victims of rape and the POCSO Act, according to Ministry of Law and Justice press release.
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Department of Justice, under the Ministry of Law and Justice disposed of 1.74 lakhs cases of Rape & POCSO Act as on 30.06.2023, providing speedy justice to the victims.
As of June 30, 2023, these courts had disposed of 1.74 lakh cases, with the government providing stringent punishment, including the death penalty, for perpetrators of rape through the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018. The scheme has been extended until March 2023, with a total budgetary outlay of Rs 1572.86 crore. 
According to a press release by the Ministry of Law and Justice, “Championing the cause of safety and security for women and girls, the Government provided for stringent punishment, including the death penalty, for perpetrators of rape by passing the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.”
Incidents of sexual offenses and prolonged trials of the accused necessitated dedicated court machinery to provide immediate relief to the victims, they added. 
Since October 2019, the Department of Justice has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored scheme to set up 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including 389 exclusive POCSO Courts across the nation, for expeditious trials relating to sexual offenses.
Each court consists of 1 Judicial Officer and 7 Staff Members. Out of 31 States and UTs eligible, 28 have joined this scheme. Puducherry made a special request to join the scheme, and the one exclusive POCSO Court was operationalized in May 2023.”
The Scheme was initially for a period of one year spread over two Financial years (FY), 2019-20 and 2020-21 at a total outlay of Rs 767.25 crore, with Rs 474 crore as the central share to be met from the Nirbhaya Fund. 
According to the press release, the Cabinet further approved the continuation of the Scheme of FTSCs for two years, i.e., up to March 2023, with a total budgetary outlay of Rs 1572.86 crore, with Rs 971.70 crore as the central share. A further extension of the Scheme is in process. 
In FY 2019-20, Rs. 140 crore, in FY 2020-21 Rs. 160.00 crore, in FY 2021-22, Rs. 134.56 crore, and in FY 2022-23, Rs. 200.00 crore were released to States as Central shares, it added. 
As of June 2023, 763 FTSCs, including 412 exclusive POCSO Courts, are functional in 29 States / UTs and have disposed of more than 1,74,000 pending cases. During FY 2023-24, a total of Rs. 200.00 crore has been allocated, out of which Rs. 100.37 crore has been released till July 31, 2023, as a Central share of funds for the functioning of such FTSCs in the States/UTs.

“For the robust implementation of the Scheme, this Department has created an online monitoring framework for monthly monitoring of case statistics. Regular review meetings with the Registrar Generals of High Courts and State functionaries are being undertaken,” read the press release.