Fast-track Courts in India: 24/7 Justice Challenges

• Fast-track courts in India were established to address the judicial backlog and ensure timely justice delivery.
• The courts were designed to deal with heinous crimes, including sexual offences and crimes against women and children.
• The effectiveness of fast-track courts has been hindered by resource limitations, inefficient investigations, and insufficient staff.
• Between 2018 and 2020, India saw a significant rise in the number of fast-track courts, from 699 in 2018 to 907 by 2020.
• However, this progress has slowed since 2020, with the number of functional courts dropping to 832 in 2023.
• States like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu have maintained high numbers of operational courts, while others have far fewer or none.
• States with fewer financial capabilities struggle to keep fast-track courts functioning optimally.
• The jurisdiction of fast-track courts is disproportionately wide compared to their capacity, further delaying justice.
• Broadening the scope of fast-track courts beyond sexual offences could alleviate some of the burdens on the regular judiciary and better fulfill their intended purpose of delivering faster justice.
• The future of fast-track courts has huge potential, but for them to live up to their promise, the States must prioritize their operation and ensure they have the necessary resources.