Constitution of special District Courts to try cases as per the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The constitution of Special Courts and their functioning fall within the domain of the State and Union Territory Governments, who set up such courts as per their need and resources, in consultation with the High Courts in accordance with Section 14 of the ‘The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) (PoA) Amendment Act, 2015’.

The Act further empowers a State Government to specify for each district, a Court of Session to be a Special Court for the purpose, in those Districts where less number of cases under this Act are filed. Therefore, State-wise status of constitution of such Courts is not maintained centrally.

The 14th Finance Commission endorsed the proposal of the Union Government to strengthen the judicial system in States which included, inter-alia, establishing 1800 Fast Track Courts at a cost of Rs.4144 crore for cases involving vulnerable and marginalised sections of the society.

The State Governments were urged to use the additional fiscal space provided by the Commission in the form of enhanced tax devolution (from 32% to 42%) to meet such requirements.