Question : FAST TRACK COURTS

MINISTER OF LAW & JUSTICE AND COMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a)to(c): A Statement Is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 198 FOR 21.7.2014 REGARDING FAST TRACK COURTS

(a): As per the reports published by National Crime Records Bureau, the cases reported and conviction rate in respect of crimes against women and children during the past three years are as under:

	Crime against women Year	Number of cases reported	Conviction rate 1	2	3 2013	309546	22.4 2012	244270	21.3 2011	228650	26.9 

	Crime against children Year	Number of cases reported	Conviction rate 1	2	3 2013	58224	30.9 2012	38172	29.0 2011	33098	34.6 
 

(b)&(c): Setting up of subordinate courts Including Fast Track Courts (FTCs) for speedy trial of cases relating to crime against women and children is the responsibility of the State Governments under the Constitution of India. Government has written to the Chief Justices of the High Courts to constitute FTCs for speedy trial of the pending rape cases in district/subordinate courts having a high pendency of such cases and to monitor the progress of these cases. The Chief Ministers of States have been requested to provide financial support to the High Courts for setting up FTCs for cases of crime against women. A statement indicating the state-wise number of courts set-up for expeditious disposal of cases of crimes against women is enclosed at Annexure.

Government has also requested the State Governments and High Courts to consider settfng-up FTCs for disposal of cases relating to offences against women, children, differently abled persons, senior citizens and marginalized sections of society as resolved in the Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices held on 7`1 April, 2013.

Government has requested the State Governments and the Chief Justices of High Courts to utilise 10% additional posts of judges being created in subordinate judiciary in pursuance of the direction of Supreme Court in Brij Mohan Lai case, for setting-up of Fast Track Courts also. For meeting expenditure on salaries of these 10% additional posts, Central Government has decided to provide funds upto a maximum of Rs. 80 crore per annum on a matching basis upto 31.03.2015 from the 13 Finance Commission Award.

Legislative provisions have been made by the Government for setting up of special courts for speedy trial of offences against children. Section 25 of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 provides that for the purpose of providing speedy trial of offences against children or of violation of child rights, the State Government may, with the concurrence of the Chief Justice of the High Court, by notification, specify at least a court in the State or specify, for each district, a Court of Session to be a Children`s Court to try the said offence. Section 28(1) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 provides that for the purposes of providing a speedy trial, the State Government shall in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court, by notification In the Official Gazette, designate for each district, a Court of Session to be a Special Court to try the offences under the Act provided that if a Court of Session is notified as a Children`s Court under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 or a Special Court designated for similar purposes under any other law for the time being in force, then, such court shall be deemed to be a Special Court under this section.

Download PDF Files