775 Fast Track Courts Handling Rape, POCSO Cases Functional In India: Centre Tells Rajya Sabha

Published 24 July 2026 · politics

775 Fast Track Courts Handling Rape, POCSO Cases Functional In India: Centre Tells Rajya Sabha Published By, Last Updated: July 24, 2026, 12:04 IST The

775 Fast Track Courts Handling Rape, POCSO Cases Functional In India: Centre Tells Rajya Sabha Published By, Last Updated: July 24, 2026, 12:04 IST The government said that the centrally scheme for setting up FTSCs has been temporarily extended till September 30, 2026. Rapid Read As of April 30, 2026, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of functional FTSCs at 218, followed by Madhya Pradesh (67). (Representative image) Fast Track Courts In India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that the Centre will set up fast-track courts to ensure the speedy trial of and stringent punishment to those involved in paper leak cases, saying that “nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth". The announcement comes amid mounting outrage over the NEET paper leak controversy and demands for tougher action against those accused of compromising competitive examinations. Fast-track courts (FTCs) are special courts created to hear and dispose of specific categories of cases on priority. Contrary to popular belief, they are not separate courts created under a new law, but are regular courts designated to exclusively handle certain types of cases. Meanwhile, the government has said that 775 fast track special courts, including 398 exclusive POCSO courts, are currently functional across 29 States and Union Territories to ensure speedy trials in rape and child sexual abuse cases.

As per the information shared the Ministry of Law and Justice in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the centrally scheme for setting up FTSCs has been temporarily extended till September 30, 2026. The scheme, launched in October 2019, was earlier extended till March 31, 2026. As of April 30, 2026, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of functional FTSCs at 218, followed by Madhya Pradesh (67), Kerala (55), Bihar (54) and Rajasthan (45). Jharkhand has exited the scheme. As per the data shared by the ministry in the upper house, 1,43,936 cases were registered before FTSCs in 2025, while 66,500 cases were disposed of during the year. The number of pending cases stood at 2,45,579 as of December 31, 2025. Additionally, the Centre has released Rs 1,259.51 crore to States and Union Territories since the scheme’s inception to support the functioning of these courts. The assistance covers salaries of judicial officers and support staff as well as day-to-day operational expenses under the Centre-State funding pattern. The ministry said regular review meetings are being held with States, Union Territories and High Courts to strengthen the functioning of FTSCs. It added that Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has written to Chief Ministers and Chief Justices, urging strict adherence to timelines under the POCSO Act and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.