GRANTS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF CHILDREN COURTS

Children court is one of the subordinate court which comes within the domain of the State Governments who in consultation with their respective High Courts open such courts as per their needs and resources. In pursuance to the Criminal Law (Amendment)Act, 2018 making the punishment for offences like rape more stringent by including death penalty for rape of a girl below the age of 12 years and the direction of the Supreme Court of India in SuoMoto1/2019 dated 25.07.2019that “in each district of the country, if there are more than 100 cases under the POCSO Act, an exclusive/designated special Court will be set up, which will try no other offence except those under the POCSO Act”.Accordingly, Union of India started a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in October 2019 for setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special Court (FTSC) out of which 389 exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) Courts were earmarked for expeditious disposal of cases related to Rape and POCSO Act.

              As on date, 28 States and Union Territories (UTs) have joined the scheme. The scheme was initially for one year which has been extended upto March, 2023. As per information made available by the High Courts, 764 FTSCs including 411 exclusive POCSO courts are operational in 28 States/UTs.

No separate funds are earmarked for any particular legal aid scheme/programme. The allocation of funds by the National legal Services Authority to State/UTs Legal Services Authorities is made on consolidated basis for all legal aid related activities as per the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.Funds/ grants-in-aid to State Legal Services Authorities are used only for legal aid activities and not for establishment and maintenance of observation homes etc. The statement showing the State wise allotment of funds to the State Legal Services Authorities including Supreme Court Legal Services Committee & Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC) during the financial year 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 (upto 10^th March, 2023) is given underAnnexure-I

This information was given by the Union Minister of Law & Justice, Shri Kiren Rijiju, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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Annexure-I

‘GRANTS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF CHILDREN COURTS’.

FUNDS ALLOCATED TO THE STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITIES INCLUDING SUPREME COURT LEGAL SERVICES COMMITTEE & MCPC DURING THE FINANCIAL YEARS 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 & 2022-23 (As on 10.03.2023).

(In rupees)

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SS/RKM