Faster is not fairer in POCSO case clearance numbers, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• In 2025, Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) in India achieved a 109% disposal rate in cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, clearing 87,754 cases against 80,320 registered.
• Despite the high disposal rate, conviction rates have fallen from 35% in 2019 to 29% in 2023, indicating that faster trials do not necessarily translate to fairer verdicts.
• Many states are yet to empanel support persons mandated under Section 39 of the POCSO Act, leading to cases collapsing pre-trial.
• The Supreme Court in December 2025 directed the appointment of para-legal volunteers (PLVs) at every police station for POCSO cases, but implementation remains uneven across states.

Detailed Insights:

• The POCSO Act of 2012 was enacted to address the specific nature of offences against children, promising child-friendly procedures and time-bound trials, but implementation gaps persist.
• Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), initiated in October 2019 with funds from the Nirbhaya Fund, handle more cases per month compared to regular courts, yet conviction rates remain low.
• Hurried investigations, incomplete charge sheets, and delayed forensic reports, particularly in overcrowded courts in states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, contribute to lower conviction rates.
• The absence of support persons, mandated by the Supreme Court in 2021, and uneven implementation of PLVs at police stations hinder effective support for child survivors and their families.
• Courts often delay ordering interim compensation for survivors, impacting their education and family income, while delayed final compensation payments undermine their intended purpose.
• Instances of courts acquitting accused individuals who offer to marry survivors, even in cases of convictions under Section 6, push vulnerable girls into lifelong ties with their abusers.

Key Concepts Involved:

• POCSO Act: A 2012 Indian law to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
• Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs): Courts established to expedite trials for specific offenses, including POCSO cases.
• Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs): Volunteers appointed to provide legal assistance and support to vulnerable individuals, including POCSO survivors, at the police station level.