POCSO Act

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

  1. Gender-Neutral Nature
  2. Ease in Reporting Cases
  3. Explicit Definition of Terms

Main Issues/Challenges

  1. Low Representation of Women in the Police Force
  2. Lapses in the Investigation
  3. No Examination by Judicial Magistrates
  4. Issue of Age Determination
  5. Delays in the Filing of Charges

Latest Cases

  1. 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.
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