Over 1000 Fast Track Special Courts to be set up for speedy disposal of rape, POCSO cases

Over
1000  Fast Track Special Courts will be
set up across the country for speedy disposal of cases relating to rape
and  Protection of Children from Sexual
Offences (POCSO) Act.

Out of
these, 389 courts have been proposed to be set up exclusively for POCSO Act
related cases in districts where the pendency of such cases is more than 100.
The Law Ministry has said, these courts will be set-up as a part of the
National Mission for Safety of Women.

It said, the
scheme was circulated to the concerned State Governments and Union Territory
Administrations in September last year.

The Ministry
said, 24 States and Union Territories have joined this scheme for setting up
792 Fast Track Special Courts. These include 354 exclusive courts for trial of
POCSO offences. The Ministry said, 216 POCSO courts are already functional in
12 States.

Incidents of
rape and gang rape of minor girls below twelve years and similar heinous crimes
against women have shaken the country. These offences require effective
deterrence through time- bound trial. For this purpose, the Centre has enacted
the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.