Chandigarh. A report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has revealed that 782 cases were registered in Punjab under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act). The report indicates that the state lacks adequate judicial infrastructure to conduct hearings for these cases, which could adversely affect the pace of their disposal.
According to data shared by the Central Government in the Lok Sabha on March 13, a total of 12 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) are operational in Punjab. Of these, only three are exclusive POCSO courts dedicated specifically to hearing cases involving sexual offenses against children.
In contrast, Haryana has 18 Fast Track Special Courts, including 14 POCSO courts. This disparity highlights the difference in the status of judicial resources between the two states.
Higher Number of Courts in Haryana
According to the statistics, 2,044 cases were registered under the POCSO Act in Haryana during the year. Despite the higher volume of cases, the state also possesses a greater number of courts, which accelerates the case disposal process. Conversely, in Punjab, the limited number of courts is emerging as a major challenge, despite the relatively lower number of registered cases.
A look at the situation in other states reveals that Himachal Pradesh has six operational Fast Track Special Courts, including three POCSO courts. Jammu and Kashmir has four such courts, two of which are POCSO courts. The Union Territory of Chandigarh has only one Fast Track Special Court and no exclusive POCSO court; however, no cases were registered under this Act in the territory during the year 2023.
Uttar Pradesh Ranks First Nationally
At the national level, Uttar Pradesh ranks first with 218 Fast Track Special Courts. Currently, 67 Fast Track Special Courts are operational in Madhya Pradesh, 55 in Kerala, 54 in Bihar, and 45 in Rajasthan. In these states, a sufficient number of special courts have also been established specifically for POCSO cases, thereby facilitating the speedy disposal of such matters.
According to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, a total of 774 Fast Track Special Courts are operational across the country, including 398 courts dedicated exclusively to POCSO cases. To date, these courts have disposed of over 3.61 lakh cases. This mechanism has been implemented with the specific objective of ensuring speedy justice, particularly in sensitive cases involving children.
Parliamentary Committee Expresses Concern
According to an NCRB report, 1,77,335 cases of crimes against children were registered across the country. Of these, 67,694 cases were registered under the POCSO Act, accounting for 38.2 percent of the total cases.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee has also expressed concern regarding this issue. The Committee has stated that, alongside increasing the number of courts, it is essential to ensure the timely utilization of funds and effective monitoring to prevent delays in cases involving children and to ensure that victims receive justice within a stipulated timeframe. In such a situation, the need to increase the number of fast track special courts and special POCSO courts in Punjab is being felt even more.
