The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for persevering with the fast-track special courts (FTSCs) for one other three years for delivering swift justice in cases involving sexual offences.
754 fast-track special courts in India
The Centre had determined to arrange 1,023 fast-track special courts, together with 389 to deal solely with cases associated to violations of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, in 31 states and Union territories after the Nirbhaya gangrape case. The authorities had made the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act in 2018 to maintain deal with issues associated to sexual offences.
The scheme for forming fast-track special courts was launched on Gandhi Jayanti in 2019 for one yr. However, the challenge was later prolonged for a further two years till March 31 this yr.
According to the federal government stories that say regardless of the Centre’s efforts, solely 754 of the 1,023 courts have been operational. Several states assured the Centre to arrange such courts however the truth is that they didn’t meet their phrases.
On Tuesday, the Cabinet gave its nod to increase the scheme by three extra years, with monetary implication of Rs 1952.23 crore. While the Central share can be Rs 1207.24 crore, the states will contribute Rs 744.99 crore. The central share is to be allotted from the Nirbhaya Fund.
“Thirty states and union territories have participated in the scheme, operationalising 761 fast-track special courts, including 414 exclusive POCSO courts, which have resolved over 1,95,000 cases,” the assertion stated.
Officials famous that Puducherry made a special request to be included within the scheme and has since operationalised one unique POCSO courtroom in May 2023.
Each fast-track special courtroom was conceived to attempt between 65 and 165 cases each year. The annual expenditure to run one such courtroom was pegged at Rs 75 lakh with one judicial officer and 7 help workers, officers famous.
According to extra particulars shared by the federal government later, fast-track courts, that are totally different from fast-track special courts, have been arrange for coping with cases of heinous crimes; cases involving senior residents, girls and kids.
(With PTI inputs)
