Question : IMPLEMENTATION OF FAST TRACK COURTS

(a) the date on which the fast track courts scheme was implemented;

(b) the reasons for establishments of fast track courts;

(c) the amount released by the Finance Ministry so far to various States for fast track courts;

(d) whether some States have not submitted the utilisation certificates so far;

(e) if so, the details of those States and reasons for delay in submission of utillisation certificates by them; and

(f) the steps being proposed by the Government to streamline the timely submission of utilisation certificates by the States?

MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI K. JANA KRISHNAMURTHI)

a) The Central Government accepted the recommendation of the Eleventh Finance Commission as per O&M dated July 26, 2000 and sanctioned the fast track court scheme for implementation.

b) The Fast Track Courts were established to substantially bring down the pendency in district and subordinate courts, particularly the long pending Sessions Cases & cases involving undertrials who have been in jails for a longtime.

c) So far, the Ministry of Finance has released Rs.196.89 crores to various States under the fast track court scheme.

d) Yes, sir.

e) The States of Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim & Tamil Nadu have not submitted their Utilisation Certificates.

f) The State Governments are being constantly persuaded to submit the utilisation certificates to the Ministry of Finance under intimation to the Department of Justice.