Academic query

Since, the beginning of the human civilisation girl child have been going through a number of maltreatment in every society.

These ill treatment towards women have been in many forms such as, eve-teasing, harassment, violence, molestation, verbal/mental or physical abuse, educational neglect, physical neglect, and even forceful s*xual intimidation. Child maltreatment is a global problem with serious life-long consequences. In spite of recent national surveys in several low- and middle-income countries, data from many countries are still lacking.

Every year, there are an estimated 40 to 150 homicide deaths in children below 18 years of age, some of which are likely due to child maltreatment.This number almost certainly underestimates the true extent of the problem, since a significant proportion of deaths due to child maltreatment are incorrectly framed to falls, burns, drowning and other causes in order to hide the abhorrent reality.

To deal with child s*xual abuse cases, Indian Government has brought in a special law, namely, The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. It came into force with effect from 14th November, 2012 along with the Rules framed thereunder.

The POCSO Act, 2012 is a comprehensive law to provide for the protection of children from the offences of s*xual assault, s*xual harassment and p*rnography, while safeguarding the interests of the child at every stage of the judicial process by incorporating child-friendly mechanisms for reporting, recording of evidence, investigation and speedy trial of offences through designated Special Courts.

The POCSO Act prescribes stringent punishment graded as per the gravity of the offence, with a maximum term of rigorous imprisonment for life, and fine. In keeping with the best international child protection standards, the Act also provides for mandatory reporting of s*xual offences.
This casts a legal duty upon a person who has knowledge that a child has been s*xually abused to report the offence; if he fails to do so, he may be punished with six months‟ imprisonment and/ or a fine. The Act also casts the police in the role of child protectors during the investigative process.

Thus, the police personnel receiving a report of s*xual abuse of a child are given the responsibility of making urgent arrangements for the care and protection of the child, such as obtaining emergency medical treatment for the child and placing the child in a shelter home, should the need arise.

I'm leaving a link down below for a pdf report by Ministry of Women & Child Development, which would clear all your queries and doubts about the said act, feel free to have a look at it -
https://us.docworkspace.com/d/sIFCc6Ogdlc2ggQY

Hope it Helps

Regards
Kevin M. Paul

Hello,

For more input pertaining to the POCSO act do visit:

https://www.lawyersclubindia.com/articles/summary-on-the-protection-of-children-from-s*xual-offences-pocso-act-2012--8978.asp
https://www.lawyersclubindia.com/articles/focus-areas-and-considerations-for-bail-in-pocso-act-11968.asp

https://www.lawyersclubindia.com/articles/bail-and-suspension-of-sentence-in-pocso-act-11632.asp
Thank you