Trial of 99% cases under POCSO Act still pending by December 2020: Report

A new report said that despite a dip in crimes against crime, the trial of 99% of cases under the POCSO Act were still pending by December 2020. According to the foundation data, in 94% of the total 1,197 cases under the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences lodged in 2020, the victims were girls with the highest number of 721 rape cases and 376 sexual assault cases.

A Praja Foundation report mentioned that according to the data, 42% of the total rape cases were committed against children below 18 years in 2020 as compared to 47% in 2018 and 45% in 2019.

The data showed the highest number of rape victims were in the age group of 12 to 18 years (620 out of 721 in 2020) and that in 95% of these rape cases under the POCSO Act, offenders were known to victims.

The data highlighted that out of the 67 cases under the POCSO Act against boys, 93% were unnatural offences.

The low proportion of reported male cases to the total cases also reflects the stigma attached to the reporting of sexual crime against males.

In its report, the Praja foundation claimed in 2020, of the total IPC cases investigated, the charge sheet was filed only in 28% cases while the investigation in 58% cases of crime against women and 56% of crimes against children were incomplete.

The report pointed out a 20% shortage of police sub-inspectors, responsible for investigating cases as of March 2021.

Out of 3,32,274 IPC cases to be tried in Delhi courts, the trial of 92 per cent of cases was pending as of December 2020, reflecting an overburdened judiciary leading to the delayed justice for victims.

The trial of 99% of cases of crime against children was pending as of December 2020, it stated.

When contacted Delhi Police Spokesperson Chinmoy Biswal said, “In Delhi, we register crime against children and POCSO cases promptly and take a deadline of 60 days under POCSO Act for investigation very seriously. A majority of the 56% pending cases last year has been charge-sheeted and moved to court.”

“POCSO cases and crime against children remain are our top priority,” he said.