FAST TRACK SPECIAL COURTS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 - Polity)

Context:  Under  Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Department of Justice,Ministry of Law &  Justice, Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) disposed of 1.74 lakhs cases of Rape & POCSO Act as on 30.06.2023, providing speedy justice to the victims.

Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs)

• These are setup as a part of the National Mission for Safety of Women (NMSW).
• The scheme was started in October 2019.
• Implemented by the Department of Justice of the Ministry of Law and Justice.
• It is a Centrally sponsored scheme for expeditious trial and disposal of pending cases of rape and offences against children under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012.

• Features of the FTSCs scheme:

• The decision on extension of the scheme beyond one year will depend on the recommendations in the external evaluation.
• The scheme does not intend to create any permanent infrastructure. The courts will be made functional in suitable premises taken on lease or as decided by the States/UTs and respective High Courts.

• Composition: Each FTSC will have one Judicial Officer and seven staff members. States/UTs may engage judicial officers and court staff on contractual basis where sufficient manpower is not available. Services of retired judicial officers with relevant experience may also be engaged to dispose of cases in the FTSCs.