(a) the total number of operational Fast Track Courts (FTCs) for crimes against women in the country;
(b) whether Government has conducted periodic monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the said courts;
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the details of measures being undertaken by the Government to ensure that all the State Governments set up FTCs?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW & JUSTICE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS
(SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (c): Setting up of 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 and their monitoring is done by respective High Courts. As per information received from the High Courts, 708 FTCs are functional in the country as on 30th September, 2018.
(d): The Union Government submitted a Memorandum to the 14th Finance Commission (F.C) for strengthening of the judicial system in States at an estimated expenditure of Rs.9749.00 crore, which, inter-alia, included establishment of 1800 FTCs for cases of heinous crimes involving women, children, senior citizens etc at an estimated expenditure of Rs.4,144.00 crore. The Commission endorsed the proposal of the Government and urged the State Governments to use the additional fiscal space provided in the form of enhanced tax devolution (from 32% to 42%) to meet such funding requirements.
The Central Government has urged the State Governments to allocate funds for the activities mentioned in the 14th Finance Commission recommendations from their State budgets from 2015-16 onwards. Further, this issue was also discussed in the Chief Ministers'' and Chief Justices'' Conference held on the 24th April, 2016 wherein it was resolved to strengthen the existing coordination and monitoring mechanism between the State Governments and the Judiciary for effective implementation of the recommendations of the 14th FC. The Government has also followed up the matter and requested State Governments/High Courts for setting up FTCs for expeditious disposal of cases of crimes against women, senior citizens and children as per the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission.