WHAT IS POCSO

POCSO
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences, or POCSO, (Amendment) Bill, 2019, seeks to provide for stringent punishment to those engaging in sexual crimes against children, death penalty in cases of aggravated sexual assault, besides levying fines and imprisonment, to curb child pornography.
The POCSO Bill proposes to protect the interest of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensure their safety and dignity. The Bill has been approved by Parliament — the Rajya Sabha on July 29, 2019 and the Lok Sabha passed it on August 1, 2019.
The POCSO Bill, 2019, was moved for consideration and passage by Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani. She said the Bill provided for levying fines and imprisonment to curb child pornography.
The Bill seeks to amend the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, which is a comprehensive law to protect the children from offences of sexual assault, harassment and pornography, 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 Amendment Bill provides for stringent punishments for other crimes against all those below 18 years of age. The POCSO Bill also aims at making offences against children ‘gender neutral’.
The POCSO Bill seeks to award strong punishment in cases of drugs being administered to children to bring about early sexual maturity. Speaking on the Bill, Irani said the legislation introduced a minimum jail term of 20 years or for the entire life and death penalty in rare cases according to the courts' discretion.
According to Irani, around 620,000 sexual offenders were listed in the national database and they were being tracked by investigative agencies. She also expressed concern that the number of juvenile perpetrators of crimes was increasing. The minister also gave the suggestion of MPs that POCSO cases be taken up at district-level meetings.
Cutting across party lines, members supported amendments to the POCSO Act, but some of them demanded that Bill be referred to a standing committee or a select committee as it made certain offences punishable with death.
POCSO NEWS
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8 years on, poor compliance with sexual harassment law at workplace
While many women in formal employment can take advantage of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, the majority of India's ...| February 23, 2021, Tuesday -
POCSO Act never intended to treat adolescent boy as offender: Madras HC
The Madras High Court has said the POCSO Act does not intend to punish an adolescent boy for entering into a relationship with a ...| January 29, 2021, Friday -
POCSO Act has supremacy over Atrocities Act, holds Gujarat High Court
The Gujarat High Court has held that the POCSO Act has supremacy over the Atrocities Act, as the caste of a child cannot override ...| October 07, 2020, Wednesday -
New POCSO rules make law on sexual offences against children more stringent
Some of the significant additions in the new rules include provision of mandatory police verification of staff in schools and ...| March 13, 2020, Friday -
Over 240,000 rape and POCSO cases pending in courts: Govt tells LS
Uttar Pradesh tops the list of states with 66,994 pending rape cases followed by Maharashtra with 21,691 and 20,511 in West| March 05, 2020, Thursday -
Why our legal aid system needs more female paralegals, better monitoring
Nearly 80% of India's population qualifies for legal aid, but since 1995, only 15 million have been provided legal services and ...| February 19, 2020, Wednesday -
Death penalty up by 53% in 2018, but most rape cases stuck at trial: Data
India has carried out four executions since 2004, the last having been in 2015| February 16, 2020, Sunday -
Central Zonal Council meet focuses on forest clearance, banking
Amit Shah called upon the states to adhere to the timeline of 2 months for completion of heinous offences| January 28, 2020, Tuesday -
RS panel suggests breaking encryption to curb child pornograhy distribution
The recommendations assume significance in view of the ongoing battle between the government and WhatsApp over encryption.| January 26, 2020, Sunday -
Gudiya rape case: Court convicts 2, says girl experienced extreme brutality
The father of the victim expressed satisfaction on finally getting justice for his daughter.| January 18, 2020, Saturday