Parliament Question: Low Conviction Rates in Child Protection and POCSO Cases

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2494 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 13th FEBRUARY, 2026 LOW CONVICTION RATES IN CHILD PROTECTION AND POCSO CASES 2494. DR. MALLU RAVI: Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has assessed the conviction rate in POCSO cases and child protection cases in Telangana, including Nagarkurnool, if so, the details thereof; (b) the number of pending cases in Central oversight schemes like NALSA or POCSO courts; (c) whether delayed prosecution disproportionately affects SC/ST children; (d) the initiatives planned to improve central monitoring and expedite convictions; and (e) whether real-time case tracking at constituency level is being considered to ensure accountability, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL) (a): As per the information made available by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the conviction rate in the State of Telangana under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was 10.23% during the year 2023, while the conviction rate for total crimes against children in the State was 20.61% during the same year. The Department or the NCRB does not maintain district-wise conviction rate data. (b): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme to set up Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO (ePOCSO) Courts was launched in October, 2019, for the expeditious trial and disposal of pending cases related to rape and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. As per the information made available by the High Courts, as of 31.12.2025, 774 FTSCs, including 398 exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) Courts are functional in 29 States/UTs, with a pendency of 2,24,572 cases relating to offences under the POCSO Act. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) provides free legal services to eligible persons under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and organizes legal awareness programmes and also conducts Lok Adalats in accordance with its statutory mandate. Since NALSA is not an adjudicatory authority, it does not maintain the data of pendency of cases. 1(c): Since the statutory timelines for investigation and trial have been prescribed uniformly for all, irrespective of caste category, the Government does not maintain separate data regarding the impact of delays in prosecution in the cases of children belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In this regard, Section 193(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 mandates that investigation in cases relating to sexual offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 shall be completed within a period of two months. Further, Section 35(2) of the POCSO Act provides that the Special Court shall, as far as possible, complete the trial within one year from the date of taking cognizance of the offence. However, delay in prosecution may takes place in some cases due to factors such as the quality of investigation, complexity of facts, nature and availability of evidence, forensic support, and cooperation of stakeholders, including investigation agencies, bar, legal representatives, witnesses, and litigants. (d): To strengthen monitoring and improve outcomes under the FTSCs Scheme, regular review meetings are held through video conferencing with the States/UTs and the High Courts. The Hon’ble Minister of Law and Justice has also written to the Hon’ble Chief Ministers and Hon’ble Chief Justices of the High Courts emphasizing strict adherence to statutory timelines prescribed under the POCSO Act, 2012 and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. In addition, the performance of FTSCs is a regular agenda item in the Inter-State Zonal Council meetings to improve inter-governmental coordination and expedite justice delivery. However, conviction or acquittal in a case depends on multiple inter-related factors across the criminal justice system, and courts are mandated to deliver justice in accordance with law and the facts submitted to them. (e): As per the information received from the National Crime Records Bureau, the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) is an online module available to law enforcement agencies at all levels, national, state, district and police station. It allows the States/UTs to undertake real-time monitoring of cases as per Section 193 (2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in relation to an offence under sections 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 or under sections 4, 6, 8 or section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 which shall be completed within a period of two months from the date on which the information was recorded by the officer in charge of the police station. Similarly, the Cases Information System (CIS), which is an online system for monitoring of the cases in the courts right from the institution till the judgment thereon, has been implemented in the courts across the country under the eCourts Mission Mode Project. **** 2