Over 4,000 POCSO cases pending in Gujarat courts
Updated: Dec 24th, 2024
Amid the horrific reports of a 10-year-old girl dead after being subjected to a horrific assault in Bharuch, disturbing data has emerged.
In Gujarat, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), approximately 4,375 cases are still awaiting verdicts.
In Gujarat 24 POCSO-specific courts have resolved 10,871 cases till now. Yet, a report highlights that from 2014 to 2021, POCSO cases in Gujarat increased by a staggering 398.50%.
During this period, 14,252 cases were registered, but only 231 convictions were achieved. At the current pace, Gujarat may require another four years to resolve all pending POCSO cases.
Justice delayed
As of October 31, Gujarat’s fast-track courts have 912 pending rape cases. When it comes to pending POCSO cases, Uttar Pradesh leads with 59,174 cases, followed by Bihar (19,172), Madhya Pradesh (7,212), Andhra Pradesh (6,594), Odisha (6,199), and Assam (6,030).
To ensure swift justice for rape and POCSO cases, fast-track special courts were announced in October 2019.
As of October 31, 2024, 750 fast-track special courts and 408 POCSO-specific courts are operational across 30 states and union territories.
These courts have resolved over 2.87 lakh cases, with 1.83 lakh of these being handled by POCSO-specific courts. However, over 1.41 lakh cases remain pending.
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