Massive backlog in fast-track courts

NEW DELHI: Fast-track special courts, which are meant to complete trials within a year of taking cognisance of offences related to rape and Pocso Act, have not been working at the expected speed. In 2025, which saw more than 1.4 lakh rape and Pocso cases being registered, only 66,500 were disposed of.The backlog of cases had reached 2.5 lakh on Dec 31, 2025. The trend has been similar over the last three years, with the total pendency at over 2 lakh. Since fast-track special courts were constituted in 2019, case pendency has always been around 2 lakh over the last seven years despite the scheme mandating time-bound trials.“The scheme has been extended twice, with the last extension valid up to March 31, 2026, for establishment of 790 fast-track special courts. The scheme has now been extended up to Sept 30 this year,” law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal informed Parliament in a written response Thursday.

Justice delayed

The minister added that according to information made available by high courts, 775 fast-track special courts, including 398 exclusive Pocso (e-Pocso) courts, were functional in 29 states/Union Territories as of April.Centre and states share expenditure on these courts in a 60:40 ratio. This covers the salaries of one judicial officer along with seven support staff for each fast-track court, in addition to a grant for meeting day-to-day expenses.Since the inception of the scheme, Centre has released Rs 1,260 crore to states and UTs to ensure the courts functioned smoothly, Meghwal said.The minister said he had written to chief ministers and Chief Justices of high courts regarding the “need for timely action and strict compliance with timelines under Pocso Act and BNSS”.Meghwal, however, said it was the responsibility of states and HCs to recruit judges and fill vacant positions of judicial officers in district and subordinate courts, including fast-track ones.