The Pocso Act, 2012: A Socio-Legal Analysis Of Its Impact On Child Protection In India

Abstract

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, represents a significant legal advancement in India’s efforts to combat child sexual abuse and protect the rights of children. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the POCSO Act, examining its socio-legal impact, key provisions, and the challenges it faces in implementation. The study begins with a historical overview of child sexual abuse as a growing social issue in India, which led to the formulation of the POCSO Act. It explores the Act’s provisions, such as its child-friendly procedures, the establishment of special courts, and its provisions for victim protection and rehabilitation. The paper also delves into judicial interpretations of the Act through landmark cases, offering insights into how courts have applied its provisions in real-life scenarios. Despite its strengths, the POCSO Act faces several challenges in terms of effective implementation, including lack of awareness among stakeholders, delays in investigations and trials, underreporting due to societal stigma, and inadequate victim support systems. These challenges hinder the Act’s ability to provide timely justice and adequate protection to child victims. The paper concludes by proposing reforms aimed at addressing these issues, such as improving training for law enforcement, increasing victim support infrastructure, and enhancing public awareness to ensure better enforcement of the Act.