Question : Fast Track Courts

(a) the details of Fast Track Courts (FTCs) functioning in the country, State-wise;
(b) the number of cases disposed of during the last three years and the current year and number of cases presently pending in these courts, State-wise;
(c) the total funds allocated and spent for setting up of these courts during each of the last three years and the current year;
(d) whether the Government proposes to set up more FTCs in the country and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(e) whether the Government is satisfied with the performance of FTCs in delivering rapid justice to litigants and if so, the details thereof;
(f) whether FTCs are not functioning anymore or the same are proposed to be continued by State Governments owned resources and if so, the respective details of such courts; and
(g) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure quick disposal of cases filed under these courts?

A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW & JUSTICE AND
CORPORATE AFFAIRS
(SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (g): The details of FTCs functioning in the country and the number of cases presently pending in these courts (State-wise) as per information received from High Courts is given at Annexure-I. However, the details of number of cases disposed of in these courts during the last three years and the current year is not maintained centrally in the Department of Justice, as their monitoring comes within the purview of the respective High Courts.

The Government of India had proposed setting up of 1800 FTCs with a cost of Rs. 4144 crores as a component of its Memorandum to the 14th Finance Commission (FC) in order to dispose of cases pertaining to heinous crimes involving women, children etc. The 14th FC endorsed the proposal of the Union Government and urged the State Governments to use the additional fiscal space provided by the Commission in the tax devolution from 32% to 42% to meet such requirements. The funds earmarked during the 14th FC Award period State-wise, is given at Annexure-II.

The decision of setting up of FTCs and allocation of funds 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. In its judgment in Brij Mohan Lal & Others vs Union of India & Others on 19.04.2012, the Supreme Court had, inter alia, directed the States that they shall not take a decision to continue FTCs on an ad-hoc and temporary basis. They (States) will need to decide either to bring the FTCs scheme to an end or to continue the same as a permanent feature in the State.

The Union Government has adopted a coordinated approach to assist judiciary, which includes FTCs, for phased liquidation of arrears and pendency in judicial systems and involves better infrastructure for courts including computerization, increase in strength of judicial officers/judges, policy and legislative measures in the areas prone to excessive litigation and emphasis on human resource development. The Central Government has urged the State Governments to allocate funds for the activities mentioned in the 14th FC recommendations from their State budgets from 2015-16 onwards. The Minister of Law & Justice has also written letters to all the Chief Ministers of States and the Chief Justices of High Courts to implement the resolution of the Chief Ministers/Chief Justices Conference including the recommendations of the 14th FC related to FTCs.
……

Annexure-I

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (g) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2058 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 7TH MARCH, 2018 REGARDING FAST TRACK COURTS.

Name of the States/UTs No of Fast Track Courts functional as on 31.12.2017 No. of Cases Pending in the Fast Track Courts
(As on 31.12.2017)
Andhra Pradesh , Telangana 72 9085
Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram 0 0
Bihar 55 22616
Chhattisgarh 21 4292
Delhi 14 6729
Goa 4 4719
Gujarat 0 0
Haryana 0 0
Himachal Pradesh 0 0
Jammu & Kashmir 5 0
Jharkhand 14 2136
Karnataka 0 0
Kerala 0 0
Madhya Pradesh 0 0
Maharashtra 100 105301
Manipur 3 114
Meghalaya 0 0
Odisha 0 0
Punjab 0 0
Puducherry
Rajasthan 0 0
Sikkim 2 13
Tamil Nadu 69 50641
Tripura 3 891
Uttar Pradesh 273 323854
Uttarakhand 4 671
West Bengal 88 39162
Total 727 570224


ANNEXURE-II

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (g) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2058 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7TH MARCH, 2018 REGARDING FAST TRACK COURTS.

Funds allocated for establishment of 1800 Fast Track Courts for a period of five years (2015-2020) as endorsed by the 14th Finance Commission:
(Rs. in crore)
S.No Name of the State Funds allocated
1. Andhra Pradesh 108.21
2. Telangana 85.18
3. Assam 82.88
4. Arunachal Pradesh 0.00
5. Mizoram 16.12
6. Nagaland 6.91
7. Bihar 338.43
8. Chhattisgarh 64.46
9. Gujarat 400.59
10. Himachal Pradesh 29.93
11. Jammu & Kashmir 48.35
12. Jharkhand 115.11
13. Karnataka 218.72
14. Kerala, Lakshadweep 94.39
15. Madhya Pradesh 306.20
16. Maharashtra, D&N, Daman & Diu 469.67
17. Goa 11.51
18. Manipur 6.91
19. Meghalaya 9.21
20. Orissa 145.04
21. Punjab 115.11
22.
23 Chandigarh 4.61
Haryana 110.51
24 Rajasthan 214.11
25 Sikkim 2.3
26. Tamil Nadu, Puducherry 204.91
27 Tripura 20.72
28 Uttar Pradesh 488.08
29 Uttarakhand 64.46
30 West Bengal, A&N Islands 216.42
31 Delhi 145.05
Total 4144.11
* The amount is to be allocated by the State Governments from their enhanced State budgets made available to them in the form of tax devolution.