The POCSO ACT: USE AND ABUSE OF LAW
The protection of children by the state is guaranteed to Indian citizens under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The State has enacted various acts for protection of children such as The Juvenile Justice Act 2000, The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006, The Child Labour Act 1986. However, there were no specific laws addressing the issues of child sexual abuse in India. Offences relating to sexual abuse of a child were covered under the general provisions of Indian Penal Code. Child sexual abuse laws in India have been enacted as part of the child protection policies of India. The 'Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Bill (POCSO), 2011' was passed on 22 May 2012 making it an Act. The POCSO Act , 2012 came into force with effect from November 14, 2012, along with the rules framed thereafter. The Act is a comprehensive law enacted with the objective of protecting children from a slew of sexual offences like s...