India has world’s highest count of population of 140 crore and over 5 crore pending cases. These cases are handled by roughly 20,580 judges working in the Supreme Court, the High Courts and District Courts, thereby demonstrating the sheer scale of India’s justice delivery challenge.
Fast Track Special Courts
With a view to reduce pendency and unclogging of courts by expediting the trial process for cases involving sexual offenses, particularly rape and violations of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), a total of 745 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), as on February 28, 2025, including 404 exclusive POCSO (ePOCSO) Courts are functional in 30 States and Union Territories across the country, which has successfully disposed of 85,595 cases out of the 88,902 new cases being instituted in 2024.
Established nationwide following Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 and a Suo Motu Writ Petition by the Supreme Court in 2019, the FTSCs managed by Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice helps reduce trauma faced by survivors of sexual crimes.
The FTSCs Scheme, now extended till March 31, 2026 with the total financial outlay of Rs 1952.23 crore will witness establishing of 790 FTSCs, including exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) courts. Each FTSC is expected to dispose of 41 to 42 cases per quarter and at least 165 cases annually to ensure timely justice and case backlog reduction. Each court comprises 1 Judicial Officer and 7 Staff Members.
Fast Track Courts
Further, under the aegis of Fourteenth Finance Commission, the Fast Track Courts have been established for dealing with cases of heinous crimes, cases involving senior citizens, women, children, etc. As on February 28, 2025, 857 Fast Track Courts were functional across the country which successfully disposed of 11,74,885 cases in 2024.
Also to fast-track criminal cases involving elected MPs/MLAs, a total of 10 Special Courts are functional in 9 States/UTs.
Moreover, with a view to reduce pendency and unclogging of the courts, the Government has amended various laws like The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Act, 2018, The Commercial Courts (Amendment) Act, 2018, The Specific Relief (Amendment) Act, 2018, The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2019 and The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2018.
Alternate Dispute Resolution methods
Accordingly, The Commercial Courts Act, 2015 was amended in August, 2018 making Pre-institution Mediation and Settlement (PIMS) mandatory in case of commercial disputes.
In order to further enhance efficiency of PIMS mechanism, the Government, through The Mediation Act, 2023, has further amended the Commercial Court Act, 2015. Amendments to The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 have been made in the years 2015, 2019 and 2021 for expediting the speedy resolution of disputes.
