Challenges Facing Fast-Track Special Courts (FTSCs)
Fast-track special courts were established to expedite trials in rape and child sexual-abuse cases but have been criticized for their sluggish pace.
Current Situation and Statistics
- Delhi hosts 16 FTSCs; of the 6,278 cases instituted, only 2,718 were disposed of by June this year.
- Cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act take over 1,700 days (nearly five years) on average to conclude.
- The India Justice Report 2025 indicates that pending cases in high courts and subordinate courts exceeded 50 million by the end of 2024, marking a 30% increase since 2020.
Systemic Issues
- Staffing shortages and procedural inefficiencies plague existing courts.
- Forensic laboratories critical to sexual-offense trials face underfunding and overburden, causing significant delays.
- Digital infrastructure is inconsistent, with some courts lacking stable internet connectivity and secure digital evidence systems.
- India's expenditure on the judiciary is about half of European countries' GDP percentage on the same.
Necessary Reforms
- Filling staffing gaps with transparent recruitment and capacity building.
- Expanding forensic capacity with more regional labs and strict turnaround timelines.
- Developing a robust digital backbone for secure case access, online filing, and virtual hearings.
- Implementing procedural discipline with strict limits on adjournments and district-specific backlog-reduction plans.
Impact on Victims
- Prolonged delays cause emotional and psychological burdens for victims of sexual assault, deepening trauma and delaying healing.
Conclusion
Fast-track courts were intended to symbolize urgency and efficiency, yet without addressing bottlenecks, the goal of swift justice remains unfulfilled.