(a) whether the Government proposes to set up fast track courts for hearing cases of senior citizens, women and children, physically challenged persons and people suffering from serious diseases;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government is providing separate funds for this purpose and if so, the State-wise details of funds allocated/released?
A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW & JUSTICE AND
CORPORATE AFFAIRS
(SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (c) : Setting up of subordinate courts including Fast Track Courts (FTCs) lies within the domain of the State Governments who set up such courts as per their need and resources, in consultation with the concerned High Courts. As per information received from the States, at present, 722 FTCs are functional in the country (Annexure-A).
The Government of India in its Memorandum to the 14th Finance Commission proposed setting up of FTCs across the country at a cost of Rs.4144 crore for trial of cases of heinous crimes, involving senior citizens, women, children, physically challenged and persons affected with terminal ailments etc. The 14th Finance Commission endorsed the proposal of the Union Government and urged the State Governments to use the additional fiscal space provided by the Commission in the form of enhanced tax devolution (from 32% to 42% ) to meet such requirements. The States, therefore, set up FTCs from the additional tax devolution provided to them. The details of funds earmarked State-wise are shown in Annexure (B).
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Annexure-A
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2558 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3RD JANUARY, 2018 REGARDING SPECIAL FAST TRACK COURTS
Name of the States/UTs Number of Fast Track Courts
Andhra Pradesh , Telangana 72
Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram 0
Bihar 55
Chhattisgarh 21
Delhi 14
Goa 4
Gujarat 0
Haryana 0
Himachal Pradesh 0
Jammu & Kashmir 0
Jharkhand 14
Karnataka 0
Kerala 0
Madhya Pradesh 0
Maharashtra 100
Manipur 3
Meghalaya 0
Odisha 0
Punjab 0
Puducherry 0
Rajasthan 0
Sikkim 2
Tamil Nadu 69
Tripura 3
Uttar Pradesh 273
Uttarakhand 4
West Bengal 88
Total 722
Annexure-B
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2558 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3RD JANUARY, 2018 REGARDING SPECIAL FAST TRACK COURTS
Funds earmarked for establishment of 1800 Fast Track Courts for a period of five years (2015-2020) as endorsed by the 14th Finance Commission:
S.No Name of the State Funds earmarked
(Rs. In crores) Number of FTCs to be established
1. Andhra Pradesh 108.21 47
2. Telangana 85.18 37
3. Assam 82.88 36
4. Arunachal Pradesh 0.00 0
5. Mizoram 16.12 7
6. Nagaland 6.91 3
7. Bihar 338.43 147
8. Chhattisgarh 64.46 28
9. Gujarat 400.59 174
10. Himachal Pradesh 29.93 13
11. Jammu & Kashmir 48.35 21
12. Jharkhand 115.11 50
13. Karnataka 218.72 95
14. Kerala, Lakshadweep 94.39 41
15. Madhya Pradesh 306.20 133
16. Maharashtra, D&N, Daman & Diu 469.67 204
17. Goa 11.51 5
18. Manipur 6.91 3
19. Meghalaya 9.21 4
20. Orissa 145.04 63
21. Punjab 115.11 50
22. Chandigarh 4.61 2
Haryana 110.51 48
23. Rajasthan 214.11 93
24. Sikkim 2.3 1
25. Tamil Nadu, Puducherry 204.91 89
26. Tripura 20.72 9
27. Uttar Pradesh 488.08 212
28. Uttarakhand 64.46 28
29. West Bengal, A&N Islands 216.42 94
30. Delhi 145.05 63
Total 4144.11 1800