Fast-track courts in slow lane now, backlog 2.5 lakh cases
Fast-track special courts in India are struggling to meet their mandate of resolving rape and POCSO cases within one year. Despite government funding and scheme extensions, the backlog has reached 2.5 lakh cases, with officials citing recruitment and administrative delays at the state level.
Why it matters
The failure of these courts undermines the judicial system's ability to provide timely justice for victims of sexual violence, highlighting a critical gap between policy intent and implementation.
NEW DELHI: Fast-track special courts, which are meant to complete trials within a year of taking cognisance of offences related to rape and Pocso Act, have not been working at the expected speed. In 2025, which saw more than 1.4 lakh rape and Pocso cases being registered, only 66,500 were disposed of.The backlog of cases had reached 2.5 lakh on Dec 31, 2025. The trend has been similar over the last three years, with the total pendency at over 2 lakh. Since fast-track special courts were constituted in 2019, case pendency has always been around 2 lakh over the last seven years despite the scheme mandating time-bound trials."The scheme has been extended twice, with the last extension valid up to March 31, 2026, for establishment of 790 fast-track special courts.
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