As the Centre announced plans to establish fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials in paper leak cases, the Union Law Ministry informed Parliament that 2,45,579 cases were pending before Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) across the country as of December 31, 2025.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, the ministry said that 775 FTSCs, including 398 exclusive courts for cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, were functional across 29 States and Union Territories as of April 30, 2026. The courts have disposed of 3,66,124 cases since the centrally sponsored FTSC scheme was launched in October 2019, according to the Department of Justice.
The parliamentary reply came on the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government had decided to set up fast-track courts for paper leak cases to ensure “swift and stringent punishment” for those responsible. In a post on X on July 23, Modi said, “Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth.”
ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWED NATIONWIDE PROTESTS
The announcement follows nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET paper leak. On July 20, students marching from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar towards Parliament demanding accountability over the alleged leaks clashed with security personnel. Police and the Rapid Action Force used baton charges and tear gas to disperse the protesters. Some demonstrators later claimed pellet guns were used during the crackdown, a charge denied by Delhi Police, which said it neither possesses nor deploys pellet guns during protest management.
Fast-track courts were first recommended by the Eleventh Finance Commission in 2000 to reduce the backlog of cases in district and subordinate courts. Following the recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission and a 2019 Supreme Court directive, the Centre launched the FTSC scheme in October 2019 to expedite the trial of cases, particularly those involving sexual offences against women and children.
The latest figures indicate that while the FTSC network has disposed of more than 3.66 lakh cases since its inception, a substantial pendency of over 2.45 lakh cases continues before these courts nationwide.
