IN RE: ALARMING RISE IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CHILD RAPE INCIDENTS Vs. IN RE: ALARMING RISE IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CHILD RAPE INCIDENTS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) There are three issues being dealt with in this petition but today this Court shall deal with only with issue of setting up of exclusive POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Courts in this Country. On 15.7.2019, this Court had noticed that there are large number of POCSO cases pending throughout the country and we had requested that data be collected with regard to the number and pendency of such cases. Thereafter, Shri Surinder S. Rathi, Registrar (E-Committee), Supreme Court of India, had collected information and submitted the same to this Court on 25.7.2019. This Court passed a detailed order on 25.7.2019, relevant portion of which reads as follows:

(2.) This Court had directed that in any District where there are more than 100 cases, an exclusive Court should be set up only to deal with POCSO cases and will not try any other offence except those under the POCSO Act. We had directed that such Court should be set up under the central scheme and would be fully funded by the Central Government.

(3.) The reason for ordering of setting up exclusive POCSO Courts is that these Courts are to deal with children who are sexually abused. These children who have been abused need to be dealt with great sensitivity and empathy. They cannot be dealt with like or along with other litigants and victims in Courts. Therefore, the need to set up exclusive Courts dealing with crimes relating to the POCSO Act