NEW DELHI: The government’s resolve to fast-track trials in 2.44 lakh rape and child sexual offence cases seems to be progressing at a snail’s pace. In the last six months, ever since the Centre announced setting up of 1,023 fast track courts (FTCs), only 21 states have come forward and set up 366 FTCs, including the five north-eastern states.

During the last one year, rape cases against women and children have increased by 46%, from 1.66 lakh in 2018 to 2.44 lakh in 2019 — about 96% of these cases are those against children booked under the Pocso (prevention of children from sexual offences) Act that mandatorily provides for completion of investigation within two months, from the date of registration of the FIR, and trial within six months.

According to data collected by the Union law ministry from various high courts, there are at least 389 districts in the country where the number of pending cases under Pocso Act exceeds 100. The government has allocated funds to these states and issued advisories to immediately set up FTCs in each of these districts.

However, a latest status report prepared by the law ministry reveals that only 21 states have so far set up FTCs — West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala and Odisha, which have high number of pending rape/Pocso cases, are yet to do that under the government’s proposed scheme of 1,023 FTCs.

Out of 366 FTCs set up so far, UP accounts for the highest at 74, followed by Madhya Pradesh (56), Rajasthan (45), Gujarat (35) and Maharashtra (30). “Share of funds have so far been released to 28 states for setting up of 651 FTCs with 363 exclusive Pocso courts out of which 366 FTCs with 273 exclusive Pocso courts have been established as per information received from high courts,” law ministry recently informed Parliament.

The law ministry has set a target of one year to complete trial of all 2.44 lakh pending rape/POCSO cases, by March 2021. The highest pendency has been in UP where the cases in absolute numbers has increased from 36,000 to 67,000 during March 2018 and December 2019. Maharashtra, West Bengal, MP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Delhi, in that order, are among the states that have reported highest pendency of rape cases after UP.

Two states, UP and MP, have shown increase in pendency of rape cases by over 80% during this period while Delhi has shown a phenomenal growth of over 353% despite the fact that it has many FTCs already running to dispose of the pendency.

