Child Abuse: Maharashtra’s POCSO Case Backlog Nears 42,000 Amidst Judicial Shortfall
Pune, 15th March 2025: The number of pending cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act has surged to nearly 42,000 in Maharashtra over the past four years, exposing a severe judicial shortfall. Despite 30 sanctioned special courts, only one is operational, led by a retired judicial officer, causing significant delays in justice delivery.
The data came to light through a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Pune-based activist Vihar Durve on February 6, seeking details on case pendency in the state. The Bombay High Court’s public information officer responded on March 4, revealing alarming figures.
According to the official response, the number of pending Pocso cases in Maharashtra rose from 32,988 in early 2023 to 41,977 as of January 31, 2025. This increase persists despite legal provisions mandating fast-track trials for cases involving crimes against children.
In 2024 alone, Maharashtra saw the registration of 12,838 new Pocso cases, while only 7,942 cases were disposed of, adding nearly 5,000 cases to the backlog. The pendency rate has been steadily increasing, with an 11.2% rise in 2023 and 13.3% in 2024. In just the first month of 2025, 405 new cases were added to the list.
“The most concerning aspect is that, despite a Government Resolution (GR) dated March 4, 2020, sanctioning 30 special Pocso courts, only one is actually functioning,” said Vihar Durve, emphasizing the strain on regular courts.
The Pocso Act, enacted in 2012, mandates the establishment of dedicated courts for swift justice in cases of sexual abuse against children. However, instead of having specialized courts for these sensitive cases, regular judicial officers—already burdened with general criminal matters—are handling Pocso trials.
“The law intends for these cases to be concluded within a year to minimize the trauma faced by child survivors, yet the ground reality is quite different,” said a senior legal expert.
Court data reveals that in 2022, 70% of new cases were disposed of, but the rate fell to 58% in 2023 before slightly improving to 62% in 2024—still far below ideal standards.
The RTI response also disclosed that an earlier GR issued on August 27, 2014, authorized Sessions Judges, Additional Sessions Judges, and ad hoc Additional Sessions Judges to preside over Pocso cases. However, these judges handle multiple case categories, leading to frequent delays in trials.
Legal professionals stress that unless the sanctioned special courts become fully operational, justice will remain slow and insufficient, leaving thousands of child survivors waiting for legal closure.
