India expands fast track courts to address child abuse and rape cases

The Union Cabinet of India approved a plan to increase the number of fast track special courts from 779 to 850 to handle cases of rape and child abuse.

This expansion continues a scheme that began in 2019 following a directive from the Supreme Court of India. The government extended the program for five years until March 2031. The Department of Justice will oversee the implementation of the scheme across 29 states and Union territories.

The project involves a total spending of ₹3,788.04 crore, with the central government providing ₹2,353.15 crore through the Nirbhaya Fund and states providing the remaining ₹1,434.89 crore. Each court will receive a dedicated judicial officer, a special public prosecutor, and six support staff members to speed up the legal process. The initiative aims to create a victim friendly environment by building child friendly court facilities and centers for vulnerable witnesses to testify with less trauma.

The government will monitor the performance of these courts using an online dashboard and regular reviews with high courts and state administrations.