Profile of Cases Booked Under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act in Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka

In India, the rising number of cases of children who are being reported to be sexually abused is a matter of grave concern. Child sexual abuse is a serious affront to our nations- dignity. The law on child sexual abuse in India is not found in a single instrument but is scattered across several legislations, with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) being the most significant statute covering the issue. The POCSO Act is the first legislation in India to cover the entire ambit of child sexual abuse.

The present study was done in the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Chamarajanagar Institute of Medical Sciences, Chamarajanagar. A detailed information regarding the cases booked under POCSO Act in Chamarajanagar District for a period of 3yrs (20132015) were sought from the office of the Superintendent of Police, Chamarajanagar and were critically analyzed and interpreted using latest statistical software.

A total number of 35 cases were booked under POCSO Act, during the study period in various police stations across the district. The age group 13-18yrs constituted 91.4% of cases booked with most of the alleged incidents taking place in the living room (home) which accounted for 42.9% cases. Not even a single male victim was registered. In 54.5% of cases, the medical examination was done more than1week after the alleged incident. 80% of the assailants were strangers to the child. The conviction rate stood at a dismal 5.7%.

It is hoped that this resource will be instrumental in enabling not just more successful litigations against the alleged offenders, but also a comprehensive approach by the appropriate authority to effectively prevent child sexual abuse in this region.