3,216 POCSO cases pending in city courts: Delhi govt to HC

The city government today informed the Delhi High Court that there are 3,216 cases relating to sexual offences against children under POCSO Act pending before different sessions courts in the national capital.
The submission was made in an affidavit submitted by Additional Home Secretary before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice P S Teji which fixed the matter for further consideration on March 4, 2015.
"At present, one Special Public Prosecutor has been posted in each of the session courts functioning in NCT Delhi to conduct the prosecution of cases, on behalf of the state. In view of the number of cases listed in each court it is felt the public prosecutors appearing in the court can handle cases under POCSO and it is not much in number to create pressure or burden," the affidavit said.

"There is a regular cadre of prosecuting officers under Directorate of Prosecution in NCT Delhi to conduct cases in courts of metropolitan magistrate/CMM/ACMMs and before the session courts. One prosecuting officer/ Additional Public Prosecutor remains regularly posted in each of the session courts functioning in NCT of Delhi," it said.
The Delhi government also informed the bench that there was no need to appoint more than one Additional Public Prosecutors for conducting the cases under POCSO Act.
The High Court had earlier asked the Administrative Reforms Department of the Delhi government to submit an affidavit on the issue of handling of POCSO cases by the special public prosecutors.

The High Court was hearing a plea, filed through advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, alleging that the government has not appointed Special Public Prosecutors (SPPs) to handle the cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.