Funds for Fast Track Courts

The Eleventh Finance Commission recommended a scheme for creation of 1,734 Fast Track Courts (FTCs) in the country for disposal of long pending Sessions and other cases. A provision of Rs. 502.90 crore was made as “special problem and up-gradation grant” for judicial administration for a period of 5 years up to 31.03.2005 out of which a grant of Rs. 426.13 crore was released to the States. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of Law & Justice informed the House that Government accorded its approval for the continuation of 1,562 Fast Track Courts that were operational as on 31.3.2005 for a further period of 5 years i.e. up to 31st March, 2010 with a provision of Rs. 509 crore out of which a grant of Rs. 370.82 crore was released to the States up to 31.3.2010. Shri Khurshid said that this scheme was further extended for a further period of one year i.e. up to 31.03.2011 and a grant of Rs. 73.16 crore has been released during the year 2010-11. It was decided that there will be no central funding for Fast Track Courts beyond 31.3.2011.

The Minister informed the House that the Government is not planning to convert all subordinate courts into Fast Track Courts. However, Fast Track Courts are set up by the State Governments in consultation with the respective High Courts, Shri Khurshid said..