Lok Sabha Question No. 1732 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: POCSO Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: K.R.P. PRABAKARAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE (DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE)

## L O K    S A B H A

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1732

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 26 TH  JULY, 2017

## POCSO Courts

## 1732.    SHRI K.R.P. PRABAKARAN:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the working of POCSO Courts dealing with crimes against children are upto the desired level;

(b) if so, the number of cases pending in these courts in each State as on date;

(c) whether these courts have the qualified personnel and adequate infrastructure  to deal with such sensitive cases; and

(d) the  total  number  of  courts  set-up/designated  for  cases  of  crimes  against children established under POCSO Act, 2012?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW & JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)

(a)& (b): The  working  and  control  of  POCSO  Courts  dealing  with  crimes against  children  come  within  the  purview  of  respective  High  Courts.  They  have comprehensive,  exclusive  and  effective    control  of    such  courts.  -The  working assessment  of  POCSO  Courts  is  not  done  centrally.  However,  a  State/UT-wise statement indicating the number of cases pending is enclosed as Annexure, as per data received from National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

(c) & (d): For dealing with such sensitive cases/cases of crimes against children 459 Special Public Prosecutors have been appointed, 727 Special Juvenile Police

Units  and  591  Special  Courts/Children  Courts  in  694  districts  have  been  set  up across the country as per information received from NCPCR. This data excludes Jammu & Kashmir where Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 is not  applicable.  Development  of  adequate  infrastructure  facilities  for  judiciary  is within the jurisdiction of the State Governments.  However, in order to augment the  resources  of  the  State  Governments,  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  for Development  of  Infrastructure  Facilities  for  Judiciary  is  under  implementation which central assistance is provided to the State Governments for the construction of  court  buildings  and  residential  units.  On  receipt  of  the  complete      proposals from      the  State  Governments  including  utilization  certificates  against  the  funds sanctioned earlier, necessary financial assistance is provided to the State Governments in accordance with the guidelines of the scheme.

***

State/UT-wise details of cases pending in the Special Courts/Children Courts under the POCSO Act, 2012 as on 20.07.2017

| Sr. No.   | States / UTs      | Number of cases pending     |
|-----------|-------------------|-----------------------------|
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh    | 447                         |
| 2.        | Arunachal Pradesh | *                           |
| 3.        | Assam             | 709                         |
| 4.        | Bihar             | 950                         |
| 5.        | Chhattisgarh      | 347                         |
| 6.        | Goa               | Nil                         |
| 7.        | Gujarat           | 77                          |
| 8.        | Haryana           | 124                         |
| 9.        | Himachal Pradesh  | 186                         |
| 10.       | Jammu &Kashmir    | POCSO Act is not applicable |
| 11.       | Jharkhand         | *                           |
| 12.       | Karnataka         | *                           |
| 13.       | Kerala            | 3991                        |
| 14.       | Madhya Pradesh    | 1241                        |
| 15.       | Maharashtra       | 12,990                      |
| 16.       | Manipur           | Nil                         |
| 17.       | Meghalaya         | 170                         |
| 18.       | Mizoram           | Nil                         |
| 19.       | Nagaland          | 14                          |
| 20.       | Odisha            | 233                         |
| 21.       | Punjab            | 118                         |
| 22.       | Rajasthan         | 3828                        |
| 23.       | Sikkim            | Nil                         |
| 24.       | Tamil Nadu        | 556                         |
| 25.       | Telangana         | 130                         |
| 26.       | Tripura           | Nil                         |
| 27.       | Uttar Pradesh     | 890                         |
| 28.       | Uttarakhand       | 4                           |
| 29.       | West Bengal       | 283                         |
| 30.       | A &NIslands       | 68                          |
| 31.       | Chandigarh UT     | Nil                         |
| 32.       | D &NHaveli        | Nil                         |
| 33.       | Daman &Diu        | Nil                         |
| 34.       | Delhi UT          | 202                         |
| 35.       | Lakshadweep       | Nil                         |
| 36.       | Puducherry        | Nil                         |
|           | Total:            | 27,558                      |