About POCSO Act
- Came into effect on 14th November 2012.
- Main Aim – To address offences of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children.
- Enacted in consequence to India’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992.
- This act defines a child as any person below the age of 18 years and provides punishment as per the gravity of offence.
- Further reviewed and amended in 2019 to Introduce more stringent punishment including the death penalty for Committing sexual crimes on children.
Main Features of POCSO Act
- Gender-Neutral Nature
- Ease in Reporting Cases
- Explicit Definition of Terms
Main Issues/Challenges
- Low Representation of Women in the Police Force
- Lapses in the Investigation
- No Examination by Judicial Magistrates
- Issue of Age Determination
- Delays in the Filing of Charges
Latest Cases
- The First Fast Track Court (POCSO court) has issued an arrest warrant against former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa in a case registered against him on March 14 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.