775 Fast Track Special Courts to Continue Across 29 States, UTs

The Centre has extended the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) scheme until September 30, 2026, allowing specialised courts to continue hearing pending cases involving rape and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Launched in October 2019, the Centrally Sponsored Scheme was introduced to speed up trials in serious sexual-offence cases and reduce the growing judicial backlog. The scheme was initially approved for 790 FTSCs, with its previous extension ending on March 31, 2026.

As of April 30, 2026, 775 FTSCs were functional across 29 States and Union Territories, including 398 exclusive POCSO courts. These courts provide dedicated judicial capacity for rape and child sexual abuse cases, with the aim of preventing prolonged trials and ensuring faster justice.

Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of functional FTSCs at 218, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 67, Kerala with 55 and Bihar with 54. Maharashtra has 38 courts, Telangana 36, Gujarat 35 and Karnataka 30. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have dedicated all their functional FTSCs to exclusive POCSO cases, while Jharkhand has opted out of the scheme.

The continued operation of the courts is aimed at tackling the substantial backlog of cases. In 2025, FTSCs registered 1,43,936 cases and disposed of 66,500 cases. However, pending cases rose to 2,45,579 by the end of 2025, compared with 2,04,122 at the end of 2024.

Under the scheme, the Centre provides financial assistance to participating States and UTs, including support for the salaries of one judicial officer and seven staff members per FTSC, along with operational expenses. Since its launch, the Union government has released ₹1,259.51 crore to States and UTs.

The government has also called for timely action under the POCSO Act and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, while reviews with High Courts and State governments seek to improve court performance and accelerate the delivery of justice.