Ministry of Law and Justice has issued clarification regarding Centrally Sponsored Scheme for setting up 1023 Fast Track Special Courts to provide speedy justice to victims of rape and POCSO Act being implemented by Department of Justice. A study on “Evaluation of Functioning of Fast Track Courts in India” was conducted by National Law University, Delhi. As per the findings of the study, the establishment of FTCs was not accompanied by special infrastructure, special administration, and separate cadre of staff or relaxation of the procedure. Therefore, their working is no different from regular courts and they face the same structural difficulties as regular courts.
The lack of adequate support has caused overburdening of the FTCs. The following recommendations were made to improving the efficiency which has been brought to the knowledge of the concerned State Governments and High Courts:
- Appointment of more experienced Judges in the FTCs.
- Need for specific recommendations of the National Court Management System which are applicable to Fast Track Courts.
- Judges to put case-specific time frames for deciding cases in FTCs as suggested by the 245th report of Law Commission of India.
- Monthly meetings at the district level of all judicial officers in FTCs to monitor their progress and ensuring day-to-day hearing in a fast-track proceeding.
- Providing a safe and comfortable environment to victims especially women and children in all FTCs in the country by using modern technology like videoconferencing/videography.
- Judges to be provided with proper and updated modern facilities like computer, technical staff and internet.
- Incentives to be given to judges for the disposal of cases which are pending for more than 5 years
- Vulnerable Witness Deposition Complexes (such as those established in Delhi) to be set up in other districts as well.
