Cabinet extends Fast Track Special Courts scheme by five years

Since the inception of the Central scheme, these special courts have disposed of more than 4.02 lakh cases related to rape and offences under the POCSO Act, 2012. File

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) approved a five-year extension of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO courts, from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031.

The scheme, operational since October 10, 2019, has undergone successive extensions to ensure expeditious disposal of cases related to rape and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. It was initially launched for one year and was subsequently extended up to March 31, 2026.

The scheme has a total financial outlay of ₹3,788.04 crore, comprising a Central share of ₹2,353.15 crore and a State/Union Territory share of ₹1,434.89 crore. The Centre’s allocation will be met from the Nirbhaya Fund. There are currently 779 functional FTSCs across the country, including 399 exclusive POCSO courts. They have disposed of 4,02,457 cases since the scheme’s inception.

Under the extended scheme, the government plans to operationalise 850 FTSCs, including exclusive POCSO courts, across participating States and Union Territories. This expansion shall be based on case pendency data across all States and Union Territories.

There is also a provision for a dedicated Judicial Officer, a Special Public Prosecutor and six support staff to facilitate expeditious disposal of pending cases relating to rape and offences under the POCSO Act, 2012.

The continuation of the Scheme is expected to expedite trials, reduce the backlog of rape and POCSO cases, and encourage the establishment of Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centres (VWDCs) and child-friendly court spaces to facilitate victim testimonies without causing further distress, while prioritising cases involving vulnerable groups like women and children, an official statement said.

politics / judiciary (system of justice) / justice and rights / crime, law and justice / sexual assault