SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir continues to struggle with low conviction rates in fast-track courts dealing with sexual offences, with official data showing convictions falling to 4.5 per cent in 2024 even as special courts disposed of hundreds of cases, the government told the Rajya Sabha on December 18, 2025.
Replying to questions on monitoring of pending cases, Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said Jammu and Kashmir currently has four Fast Track Special Courts, including two exclusive POCSO courts. Since the inception of the centrally sponsored scheme, these courts have disposed of 286 cases in the Union Territory, including 161 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Conviction rates in Jammu and Kashmir stood at 6 per cent in 2023 and declined further to 4.5 per cent in 2024, figures that mirror broader national concerns about the gap between chargesheeting and convictions.
Placing the Jammu and Kashmir data in a national context, the government said it has examined the NCRB’s Crime in India 2023 report, which shows an overall chargesheeting rate of 72 per cent for IPC crimes and a conviction rate of 54 per cent. The ministry said conviction outcomes depend heavily on the quality of investigation, evidence and the speed of trials, areas where it claims significant reforms are underway.
Nationally, 745 Fast Track Special Courts, including 404 exclusive POCSO courts, were operational across 30 states and Union Territories as of March 31, 2025. Since the launch of the scheme in October 2019, these courts have cumulatively disposed of 3,19,685 cases. The scheme, originally envisaged for 790 courts, has been extended twice, with the current extension running until March 31, 2026.
State-wise data submitted by High Courts shows wide variation in conviction rates across the country. While states such as Meghalaya reported conviction rates of over 45 per cent in 2024, several large states and Union Territories recorded rates below 10 per cent. Jammu and Kashmir was among the regions with persistently low conviction outcomes despite the presence of dedicated fast-track courts.
To address delays and evidentiary gaps, the government said it has rolled out multiple technology-driven interventions under the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System and the eCourts Project. These include the eSakshya platform for digital collection and secure storage of evidence, allowing courts to directly access crime scene records and statements, and the Nyaya Shruti app, launched in 2024, which enables virtual appearances and testimonies through video conferencing. An e-Summons platform has also been introduced to speed up service of court notices.
The government said it is implementing eCourts Project Phase III with an outlay of Rs 7,210 crore over four years to move towards fully digital and paperless courts. The phase includes digitisation of legacy records, expansion of video conferencing to courts and jails, creation of a cloud-based judicial data repository and use of technologies such as artificial intelligence and optical character recognition. Judges are now able to access case files, pleadings and evidence digitally through the Digital Courts 2.1 platform.
On transparency and monitoring, the government clarified that Fast Track Special Courts are already integrated with the National Judicial Data Grid through the Case Information System used by regular courts, enabling public access to data on pendency and disposal.
The reply underscores that while special courts and digital reforms have expanded rapidly across India, regions such as Jammu and Kashmir continue to face challenges in translating faster case disposal into higher conviction rates, keeping the spotlight on investigation quality and trial effectiveness within the criminal justice system.
