764 Fast Track Courts disposed over 1.44 lakh POCSO cases in last 5 years: Minister informs Parliament

New Delhi, (India), 31st March 2023: In reply to a question by MP P Wilson about the high rate of acquittals under POCSO Act, Women and Child Welfare Minister Smriti Irani gave a written reply in the parliament outlining the measures taken to bring more perpetrators to justice.

Sharing the reply and his question, MP P Wilson, tweeted, “To my question on the steps taken to look into the high rate of acquittals under POCSO Act;To establish more POCSO Special Courts in districts across the country including TN to clear the pendency of over 2.26 Lakhs POCSO cases, Hon’ble @smritiirani has replied as follows”.

The written reply by the minister, read, “The POCSO Act was amended in 2019 in order to include more stringent punishment including death penalty on order to deter the perpetrators.”

“Later based on relevant inputs, central government the criminal law act 2018 which led to establishment of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC), for speedy trial of POSCO cases. As of January end, 764 FTSCs including 411 exclusive POCSO courts are functional in 28 state/UTs which have disposed of over 144000 cases,” it added.