Govt sets up exclusive NIA courts in 3 states to fast-track terror trials
The Union Government has set up three new exclusive National Investigation Agency (NIA) special courts in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar to expedite trials in anti-terror cases handled by the agency.
Exercising its powers under Section 11 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, and after consultations with the Chief Justices of the High Courts of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Patna, the Union Government has designated special courts in Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, and Patna as exclusive NIA courts.
According to a gazette notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs, these courts will handle only Scheduled Offences investigated by the NIA. They will have statewide authority for cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
This move comes after months of Supreme Court oversight of delays in NIA and UAPA trials. On December 16, 2025, the Centre told the Supreme Court it would set up a dedicated NIA court in every State and Union Territory, and more than one court where over 10 anti-terror cases were pending, to speed up trials.
In February 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) submitted a status report to the Supreme Court, suggesting that exclusive special courts be established in States with 10 or more NIA cases awaiting trial.
The report said the Centre would provide a one-time grant of Rs 1 crore for initial expenses and Rs 1 crore each year for ongoing costs for each court. This funding is for things like renovating infrastructure, purchasing IT equipment and vehicles, and paying staff salaries.
An Office Memorandum from January 7, 2026, set the same spending limits and made it clear that the Centre would not pay for land or new buildings. States were told to use an existing courtroom instead.
The difference between a designated special court and an exclusive court has been a key issue in the case. India already has many courts under the NIA Act, but most of them also handle other criminal cases. The Supreme Court has said that exclusive courts should hear NIA cases every day and only take up other matters when there are no NIA cases to handle.
In March 2026, the Court filed its own petition to create these exclusive courts. It later ordered that if there are more than 15 pending trials, there should be at least two exclusive courts, and if there are more than 25, there should be at least three.
By late July, the Union told the Court that 14 exclusive NIA courts had been set up in nine States, including Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Assam, and Punjab. Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan still needed more action. Andhra Pradesh already had special courts in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. In July, its Cabinet approved a dedicated NIA court in Visakhapatnam with statewide authority after the High Court noticed many pending cases there. Bihar has had an exclusive court in Patna since January 2026 and is considering adding another. Rajasthan, with about 10 pending NIA trials, had not yet started an exclusive court.
The latest notifications address this gap for the three States. Officials say that exclusive benches should help shorten the long periods undertrials spend in jail, a practice often criticised by the courts.
Judges have pointed out that accused people should not be kept in custody for too long just because crowded court schedules delay their trials.
The Court has also told States to try to finish an NIA trial in about a month by holding continuous hearings and using dedicated special public prosecutors. The financial support and the need for High Court consultation are meant to make sure the courts actually work, not just exist on paper. The new benches in Jaipur, Patna and Visakhapatnam begin day-to-day hearings without delay. They will now be monitored as part of the Supreme Court’s ongoing review of exclusive special courts nationwide.
