Centre Informs Supreme Court: Dedicated NIA Courts to be Set Up in All States and Union Territories

The Central Government has informed the Supreme Court that it has decided to establish dedicated National Investigation Agency (NIA) courts in every state and union territory to ensure speedy trials in terrorism-related cases. In Delhi, 16 special courts will be set up and are expected to become operational within three months.

The government told the Supreme Court that multiple special NIA courts will be established in states and UTs where 10 or more cases under anti-terror laws are currently pending. The initiative aims to streamline proceedings and avoid delays caused by jurisdictional overlaps between various law enforcement agencies.

Delhi to Get 16 Special Courts

The Delhi government informed a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that the 16 special courts will handle cases related to organised crime and terrorism. The bench directed the Centre and Delhi authorities to explore the possibility of implementing strict organised crime prevention laws similar to the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) across the National Capital Region (NCR) to prevent criminals from exploiting jurisdictional loopholes.

The bench highlighted instances where criminals commit offenses in one state and move to another, creating legal ambiguities about which court or agency should take cognizance. High-profile cases cited included those of gangster Mahesh Khatri and Naxal supporter Kailash Ramchandani, whose actions have previously delayed justice.

Infrastructure and Funding to be Provided

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the court that the Home Secretary of India held online meetings with state counterparts to plan the creation of the required infrastructure and judicial posts. Funding has been proposed to cover both recurring and non-recurring expenses, ensuring the new NIA courts are fully functional.

Bhati confirmed that the Centre will establish special NIA courts wherever necessary and in areas with a large number of cases—such as those linked to banned outfits like the PFI—more than one court will be set up. Delhi’s 16 special courts are expected to handle daily hearings exclusively for NIA and special law cases, considering other cases only when idle.

Supreme Court’s Directive

The bench emphasized that existing courts should not merely be re-designated as special courts to handle these cases, as this could overburden the judiciary. Bhati and Delhi officials assured the court that additional infrastructure and dedicated judicial capacity are being developed.

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and Delhi government to file an action report and listed the matter for further hearing in January 2026. This follows earlier directives in July, when the top court had reprimanded the Centre and Maharashtra government for merely naming existing courts as special courts instead of creating new ones for terrorism-related and organised crime cases.

This move is expected to expedite terrorism-related trials and strengthen the judicial framework for handling organised crime across the country.