Fast Track Courts : Know the Origin and what it is for?

The Fast Track Courts were established to expeditiously dispose of long pending cases in the Sessions Courts and long pending cases of undertrial prisoners.

The term of scheme on the Fast Track Courts were recommended by the Eleventh Finance Commission ended on 31st march, 2005. The 11th Finance Commission recommended a scheme for creation of 1734 Fast Track Courts in the country for disposal of long pending Sessions and other cases. The Ministry of Finance sanctioned an amount of Rs. 502.90 crores as “special problem and upgradation grant” for judicial administration. The scheme was for a period of 5 years. The Finance Commission Division (FCD), Ministry of Finance released funds directly to the state Governments under the scheme of Fast Track Courts. It is the primary responsibility of the State Governments to establish these courts in consultation with the concerned High Courts.

The scheme envisages the appointment of ad hoc judges from among retired sessions/additional sessions judges, judges promoted on ad hoc basis and posted in these courts or from among members of the Bar. Selection of judges will be done by the High Courts. The Centre has directed the State Governments that consequential vacancies resulting from ad hoc promotion of judges be filled through a special drive. This is called for in order that further pendency is not created in existing courts of magistrates and civil judges.

As per the Centre’s action plan, the fast track courts will be required to dispose of 14 sessions trial cases and/or 20 to 25 criminal/civil cases every month. The State Governments and High Courts have been requested to make effective arrangement for representation on behalf of the prosecution and to ensure quick process service.

Why Fast Track Courts?

• They are to expeditiously clear the colossal scale of pendency in the district and subordinate courts under a time-bound programme
• This experimental scheme is to take up on top priority basis sessions and other cases involving undertrials
• The fast track courts are expected to substantially reduce the number of undertrials in jails thereby reducing expenditure as well as burden on jails
• They will take up as their next priority sessions cases pending for two years or more, particularly in which the accused persons have been on bail.
• The scheme envisages the setting up of an average of five fast track courts in each district of the country.