The Government of India enacted “The Criminal (Law) Amendment Act, 2018” through which amendments were effected in the Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, the Indian Evidence Act and The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 for bringing in stringent provisions for expeditious trial and disposal of cases exclusively pertaining to sexual offences involving girls and women.

A Scheme on the lines of other Centrally Sponsored Schemes for setting up Fast Track Special Courts for expeditious trial and disposal of rape cases has been formulated by Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice.  The Empowered Committee (EC) of Officers under Nirbhaya Fund has appraised the project for setting up of 1,023 Fast Track Special Courts with total financial implication of Rs. 767.25 crores under the Nirbhaya Fund to dispose of cases pending trial for rape and POCSO Act across country.

This information was given by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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MM/SB