Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has welcomed the Union Cabinet’s decision to extend the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) scheme by five years, until March 31, 2031, and expand the network of these courts across the country.
Reacting to the decision, Yadav said that Fast Track Courts play an important role in ensuring speedy hearings in pending cases. In a post on X, he described the Centre’s move as a significant step towards expediting judicial proceedings and delivering timely justice to women and children who are victims of crimes.
The decision was taken at a Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday.
850 Fast Track Special Courts to Be Established
Under the approved extension, the government will expand the network to a total of 850 Fast Track Special Courts, including dedicated Special POCSO Courts.
The existing 779 Fast Track Special Courts will be expanded under the scheme. These include 399 exclusive POCSO Courts.
The expansion will also cover additional districts, with their inclusion determined on the basis of the pendency of rape and POCSO cases.
Scheme to Continue Until March 2031
The extended scheme will be implemented across 29 participating states and Union Territories and will remain in operation until March 31, 2031.
The Fast Track Special Courts scheme is aimed at expediting the disposal of pending cases involving sexual offences, particularly those related to rape and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Welcoming the Cabinet’s approval, Yadav said the decision would strengthen the mechanism for speedy hearings in pending cases.
