Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act, 2012 – Child rape cases – Alarming increase in number of reported child rape incidents in view of various news reports – Suomoto cognizance by this Court – Issuance of directions for setting up of special courts exclusively designated for trying offences under the POCSO – Subsequently, directions issued from time to time calling upon the States and the High Courts to furnish information – Submissions of report showing status of POCSO cases pending in courts:
Held: Majority of the States with the funding from Central government have complied with the directions issued by the Court for setting up exclusive courts for POCSO cases, however in certain states-Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Maharashtra, there is still need to create more POCSO courts considering the pendency of POCSO cases – Timelines stipulated under POCSO Act for all stages must be adhered to as far as possible – Because of inadequacy of exclusive courts for POCSO cases, timelines mandated in the Act are not being maintained – Union of India and State Governments to take appropriate steps to sensitize the officials associated with investigation of POCSO cases, and also to create dedicated courts to try POCSO cases on top priority basis, and to see to it that chargesheets are filed within the mandatory period stipulated in the Act, and trials are completed within the time frame as contemplated in the Act. [Paras 5, 6]
As published in the Supreme Court Reports, Supreme Court of India. Headnotes prepared by: Nidhi Jain. Text from the Indian Supreme Court Judgments open data set (Dattam Labs), CC BY 4.0.
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