Bihar announces 100 fast-track courts to clear 18 lakh pending cases

Bihar Home Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday announced that the state government will establish 100 fast-track courts (FTCs) across 38 districts and sub-divisions to accelerate the disposal of long-pending criminal cases. The minister said the initiative comes at a time when over 18 lakh cases are awaiting trial in various courts across the state.

Choudhary said the new FTCs will help reduce the heavy burden on regular courts and allow them to give focused attention to sensitive matters. “The constitution of these courts will bring big relief to the judicial system and to litigants,” he said in an official statement. To operationalise the new courts, the government will undertake large-scale recruitment of around 900 personnel , including bench clerks, stenographers, deposition writers, office clerks, data entry operators, drivers, process servers and peons.

As part of the judicial expansion, 79 courts will be designated as ‘Act Courts’ dedicated to fast-tracking cases under the Arms Act. The minister said quicker disposal of such serious cases would strengthen law and order across Bihar. Patna will receive the highest number of new courts with eight FTCs, while four each will come up in Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Bhagalpur. Three FTCs have been allocated to Nalanda, Rohtas, Saran, Begusarai, Vaishali, East Champaran, Samastipur and Madhubani. Two courts each will be set up in 29 other districts, and one each at Naugachia and Bagaha sub-divisions.

Fast-track courts generally dispose of criminal cases 2 to 4 times faster than regular courts. While cases in ordinary courts often take 3 to 5 years , FTCs can conclude many trials within 6 months to 1 year , depending on evidence, witness availability and case complexity. The government hopes this will significantly cut pendency and deliver quicker justice in serious offences.

Bihar has a large number of legislators facing criminal charges, and faster trials are expected to impact these cases as well. MLAs are tried in special MP/MLA courts , and in some instances, fast-track courts also handle cases against elected representatives particularly those involving serious offences such as murder, kidnapping, corruption and Arms Act violations. There is no immunity for MLAs in criminal matters. If convicted for an offence carrying a sentence of two years or more , they face immediate disqualification under the Representation of the People Act. Their seat stands vacated, and they are barred from contesting elections for six years after completing the sentence, unless a higher court stays the conviction .

The establishment of new FTCs and Act Courts is expected to hasten the pace of such trials, enabling quicker legal scrutiny of cases involving public representatives.