Fast-track courts in slow lane now, backlog 2.5 lakh cases

Fast-track special courts, established to complete rape and Pocso Act trials within a year, had a backlog of 2.5 lakh cases as of Dec 31, 2025.

In 2025, over 1.4 lakh rape and Pocso cases were registered, but only 66,500 were disposed of.

Since fast-track special courts were constituted in 2019, case pendency has remained around 2 lakh for the last seven years.

Law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the scheme has been extended to Sept 30, 2026, with 775 fast-track special courts functional as of April.

Meghwal noted that states and high courts are responsible for recruiting judges to fill vacancies in fast-track courts.