Tatsat Chronicle Magazine

47,221 POCSO Cases Filed Across India In 2020, Govt In Lok Sabha

July 30, 2022
POCSO

The Ministry of Women and Child Development said that over 47,000 cases were registered under Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) in 2020, while 1,70,271 such cases were pending trial by the end of the year.

Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said the Ministry of Justice is developing a program for 1,023 fast-track special courts, including 389 POCSO special courts, for speedy trial and resolution of rape cases. Cases under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2018 and the POCSO Act.

According to data from the National Office of Criminal Records, in 2020, 47,221 POCSO cases were registered and 170,271 cases were pending at the end of the year.

In a written response, Ms Irani said the number of fast-track courts in the country as on May 31 was 892.

In 2020, the Union Territories of Ladakh and Chandigarh reported zero cases. However, the latter had one case chargesheeted, eight cases pending trial by the end of the year and two persons charged. Amongst the states, Goa and Himachal Pradesh had the lowest number of cases registered — five each.

The Union minister said, “The department of justice is implementing a scheme for setting up of 1,023 fast track special courts (FTSCs) including 389 exclusive Pocso courts for expeditious trial and disposal of cases related to rape and the POSCO Act in furtherance to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.” In 2022, 892 FTSCs were active, whereas in 2021, 898 were, Irani said.

Responding to another question, Ms. Irani said that 596 children had died in adoption agencies in the last three years.