“123 fast-track courts allocated but none of them are functional yet”: Centre responds to Mamata Banerjee’s letter to PM Modi

New Delhi [India], August 27 (ANI): Responding to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s letter to PM Modi for setting up fast-track courts, Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi lambasted the West Bengal government for its failure to implement essential safety measures for women and children in the state.

In a letter written to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, the Union Minister on Monday said that 123 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) were allocated to the state but none of them are functional yet.

Union Minister Annuparna Devi responded to Mamata’s letter and said, “As of 30.06.2024, 752 FTSCs including 409 exclusive POCSO Courts are functional in 30 States / UTs which have disposed of more than 2,53,000 cases since the inception of the scheme. Under the scheme, the State of West Bengal was allocated a total of 123 FTSCs, which included 20 exclusive POCSO Courts and 103 combined FTSCs dealing with both rape and POCSO Act cases. However, none of these courts had been operationalized till mid-June, 2023.”

Union Minister further demanded the government to take action in this regard as around 48,600 rape and POCSO cases are pending in West Bengal.

“The State of West Bengal communicated its willingness to participate in the Scheme vide letter dated 08.06.2028, committing to start 7 FTSCs. Under the Revised target, West Bengal has been allocated 17 FTSCs, of which only 6 exclusive POCSO Courts have been operationalized as of 30.06.2024. In spite of a pendency of 48,600 rape and POCSO cases in West Bengal, the State Government has not taken any steps to start the remaining 11 FTSCs. Action in this regard is pending with the state government,” it added.

She further highlighted the state government’s failure to implement key emergency helplines such as the Women Helpline (WHL), Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) and Child Helpline. The Union Minister said that despite many requests and reminders from the central government, the state didn’t implement any of these facilities.

The letter further reads, “Recognizing the need for Helplines as first responders in the golden hour to a woman or child in distress, Women Helpline (WHL) – 181, Emergency Response Support System {ERSS) -112, Child Helpline — 1098, Cyber Crime Helpline — 1930 have been put in place in the last few years. The WHL and Child Helplines have been integrated with ERSS also. But, unfortunately, the people of the State of West Bengal cannot utilize this facility as the State Government has not implemented the WHL despite many requests and reminders from Gol.

Earlier on August 22, West Bengal Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the central government to bring in central legalization and set up fast-track courts for “sensitive” issues, to ensure fast speedy trial.

As the nation fumes over the RG Kar medical hospital incident, igniting discussions and protests on crime against women in India, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a letter to PM Modi wrote, “I wish to bring your kind attention to the regular and increasing occurrence of rape cases throughout the country and in many cases, rapes with murder are committed.”

Mamata, in the letter, mentioned that such “sensitive” issues need to be addressed comprehensively through stringent central legalization prescribing exemplary punishment against the persons involved in such dastardly crimes.

The Bengal Chief Minister suggested setting up of “fast track special courts” to deal with such cases, which need a speedy trial.

“To ensure justice, trial in such cases should preferably be completed within 15 days,” the letter further read.