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Four child sexual abuse victims are denied justice everyday due to closure of their cases by police because of insufficient evidence, highlights a new study.
The “Police case disposal pattern: An enquiry into the cases filed under POCSO Act, 2012” by Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF), is an analysis of pattern of disposal of POCSO cases by police from 2017 to 2019 and is based on the data and information published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
The report was released on International Women’s Day.
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Rise in child sex abuse cases between 2017-2019
“It has been observed that between 2017 and 2019, there has been an increase in the number of cases that have been closed by the police after investigation without filing the chargesheet,” the study pointed out.
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As the data shows, sexual crimes are increasing in the country over the years.
“While the government recognised the need for a special law and introduced a special legislation to deal with crimes against children viz., Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO), it is disappointing to see its poor implementation on the ground,” the study noted.
3,000 POCSO cases registered and investigated fail to reach court
As many as 3,000 POCSO cases registered and investigated fail to reach court for a fair trial every year and four child victims of sexual abuse are denied justice every day due to the closure of their cases by police because of insufficient evidence or lack of a clue, the study said.
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“It has further been revealed from the NCRB data that in a large number (two-fifths) of POCSO cases which were disposed- off/closed by the police without charge sheeting the reason cited was ”cases true but insufficient evidence, or untraced, or no clue,” it said.
In 2019, 43 per cent of cases were closed by police on this ground as per the final reports filed in court, the study said.
The study has revealed 51 per cent of cases under POCSO are being registered in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.
