Supreme Court asks Centre to set up Special Courts in 60 days for POCSO cases

New Delhi: The Supreme Court asked the Centre to set up courts within 60 days and appoint sensitized prosecutors to deal with sexual assault cases against children.

The court directed the setting up of Centrally-funded exclusive court in districts with over 100 cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose, said the Centre would have to appoint trained, sensitized prosecutors and support persons to deal with the POCSO cases.

The bench also directed the chief secretaries of states and union territories to ensure timely submission of forensic reports in such cases.

It may also be mentioned that the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill entailing amendments to the POCSO Act by including death penalty for aggravated sexual assault on children, besides providing stringent punishments for other crimes against minors.

The bill would now be send to the Lok Sabha for approval.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 also provides for fines and imprisonment to curb child pornography.

Also, replying to the debate, Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said the government is setting up 1,023 fast track courts, which would specially deal withe POCSO related cases.

"Recognizing that justice delayed is justice denied ,the government has sanctioned 1023 fast track courts, particularly to be made for dispensing cases which were pending under POCSO, she added.

The minister also spoke on the growing number of such cases and lauded the support from members cutting across party lines.

"What we touch today is just a tip of the iceberg as many cases are swept under the carpets," she said while referring to the AITC member Derek O' Brien comments that "many cases are not spoken about as the perpetrator happens to be known to the victim and happens to be a part of the victim's family."

During the debate on the bill in the upper house, Brien had recalled his childhood trauma of being molested in a bus.

The government also took note of pending cases in various high courts and said that 1.66 lakh cases relating to sexual assaults were pending across the country at several stages. "The government reached out to each state and 18 states has consented to set up this court," said Irani.

Also Read: Madras High Court’s Suggestion On Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act Hailed