The Union Cabinet on Wednesday, November 4 approved the continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO Courts, for a further period of five years — from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031 — the Press Information Bureau said in the official release.

Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)

The scheme has a total financial outlay of Rs 3,788.04 crore: a Central share of Rs 2,353.15 crore, which will be funded from the Nirbhaya Fund, and a State and Union Territory share of Rs 1,434.89 crore. It provides for the operationalisation of 850 Fast Track Special Courts, including exclusive POCSO Courts, across the participating States and Union Territories.

Each court under the scheme has a dedicated Judicial Officer, a Special Public Prosecutor and six support staff, so that pending cases of rape and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 are heard by a bench that does nothing else. The scheme is implemented by the Department of Justice in coordination with the State Governments and UT Administrations, and its primary beneficiaries are women and children who are victims in such cases.

The FTSC scheme has been operational since October 2, 2019. It was launched in pursuance of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 and in compliance with the Supreme Court's directions of July 25, 2019 in Suo Motu Writ (Criminal) No. 1 of 2019. It was initially launched for one year and subsequently extended up to March 31, 2026; Wednesday's approval carries it forward for a further five years.

Announcing the decision, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said it was part of efforts to fully utilise and implement the prevailing laws on such cases, while Minister Jitendra Singh framed the extension as a strong commitment to speedy justice and to strengthening the protection of women and children, NationPress reported.

Source: NationPress