PANAJI
The only centrally-funded Fast Track Special Court (FTSC) including the exclusive Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Court in Goa, has disposed of 83 cases since its inception.
Minister of State for Law and Justice (Independent Charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Friday, said that FTSC pan-India has contributed to the overall disposal of 2.87 lakh cases.
These courts were set up after the enactment of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.
A central allocation of Rs 1.16129 crore has been released for Goa’s FTSC under the scheme from the financial year 2019-20 to 2024-25.
A senior State government official told The Goan that Goa established a permanent POCSO Court about two years ago with a full-term judge.
Previously, additional district judges were designated as FTSC judges to handle such cases within their respective jurisdictions.
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme, which funds these courts, has been extended twice, with the latest extension valid until March 31, 2026. As of October 31, 2024, inputs from the High Courts indicate that 750 FTSCs, including 408 exclusive POCSO Courts, are operational across 30 States and Union Territories.
“These courts have collectively disposed of over 2.87 lakh cases as of October 31, 2024,” Meghwal stated.
The minister further highlighted the efficiency of FTSCs in handling cases of rape and POCSO Act violations. “While regular courts dispose of an average of 3.26 cases per month per court, FTSCs achieve an average disposal rate of 8.01 cases per month, demonstrating significant efficiency in case resolution,” he said.
The FTSCs are funded under the Nirbhaya Fund, which has allocated Rs 1,008.14 crore to States and Union Territories since the scheme’s inception. In the current financial year (2024-25), Rs 173.59 crore has been released against a total budget allocation of Rs 200 crore.
The funds are provided on a Centrally Sponsored Scheme pattern (60:40 or 90:10 ratio) and cover expenses such as the salaries of one judicial officer, seven support staff and flexible grants for daily operational costs.
