Fast Track Courts For Sexual Harassment Cases Get An Extension Of Three More Years

New Delhi, November 30 (TNA) The fast track special courts, based on the concept of providing speedy justice to people in all cases like sexual harassment, will continue to operate for the next three years. The Union Cabinet has given its approval to this decision. The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act was passed in 2018 after Delhi's much-discussed Nirbhaya gang rape case.

After this the Central Government had decided to constitute 1023 fast track special courts. Of these, 389 courts in 31 states are specifically set up to hear cases related to the POCSO law designed to protect children from sexual abuse.

The scheme was launched in 2019 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti for one year, which was later extended for two years till March 31 this year. However, it is also a fact that despite all the efforts of the Central Government, only 754 out of 1023 courts are operational.

Centre's share will be given from Nirbhaya fund

It is due to the negligence of the states that they could not show as much activeness as expected in the matter of special courts. Many states have promised the Center to create such special courts, but most of the states have not been able to make them operational. The decision taken by the Union Cabinet to give a three-year extension to these courts will cost Rs 1952.23 crore.

In this, the central government will spend Rs 1207.24 crore, while the contribution of the states will be Rs 744.99 crore. The Centre's share will be given from the Nirbhaya Fund. The central government said in a statement that thirty states and union territories have participated in the scheme.

This has led to the operation of 761 fast track special courts, of which 414 are exclusive POCSO courts. 195000 cases have been settled through these courts. Fast Track Special Courts have been conceptualized with a view that each of them will adjudicate 65 to 165 cases every year. The annual expenditure on one such court comes to about Rs 75 lakh. It normally consists of one judicial officer and seven support personnel.