Cabinet extends Fast Track Special Courts scheme, including POCSO courts, for five more years

The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO Courts, for a further five years, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031. The total outlay is Rs.3,788.04 crore, with the Central share of Rs.2,353.15 crore funded from the Nirbhaya Fund and the balance borne by participating States and Union Territories. The number of FTSCs is to expand from the current 779 (including 399 exclusive POCSO Courts) to 850, each with a dedicated Judicial Officer, a Special Public Prosecutor and six support staff, to speed up the trial of pending rape and POCSO Act cases.

The Scheme was first launched on 2 October 2019 pursuant to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, and in compliance with the Supreme Court's directions of 25 July 2019 in Suo Motu Writ (Criminal) No. 1 of 2019, which required exclusive courts in districts with more than 100 pending POCSO cases. Since then, 4,02,457 cases have reportedly been disposed of under the Scheme. The Department of Justice will implement the continued Scheme with the States and Union Territories, tracking performance through an FTSC Dashboard and periodic reviews with High Courts.