POCSO-Rape Cases Are Piling Up Across the Country

October 14, 2026 admin

Introductory Memo: India is facing a growing backlog of rape and POCSO cases due to delays in trials and the failure to establish the required number of special courts. In 2025, around 1.4 lakh cases were registered, but verdicts were delivered in only 66,500 cases, leaving approximately 2.4 lakh cases pending by the end of the year. Despite the legal requirement to complete POCSO trials within one year, pending cases have remained above two lakh annually in recent years. Although the central government has provided financial assistance to states and proposed 790 fast-track courts to expedite trials, several states, including Kerala, have reportedly failed to make full use of the scheme. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has urged states and High Courts to ensure speedy disposal of cases, while emphasizing that the appointment of judges and the establishment and maintenance of courts fall under the responsibility of state governments.

Analytical view/ Analysis: All the POCSO – rape cases have to dispose within one year after coming to the purview of the courts. This is fully violated and around two lakh cases are pending and piling up yearly. This is nullifying the real purpose of POCSO act itself.

Cases of sexual assault against children and rape cases are piling up without trials being completed. Under the POCSO Act, cases that reach the courts are required to be completed and verdicts delivered within one year. But because the law has not achieved the required pace of implementation, cases are piling up in the courts. In 2025, 1,40,000 rape and POCSO cases were registered in India. But verdicts could be delivered in only 66,500 cases. By December 31, 2025, as many as two and a half lakh cases, including older cases, were pending in the courts. An examination of the pattern of pending cases over the past three years makes it clear that at least two lakh cases remain pending every year. The assessment is that the failure to establish the required number of courts under the law and to conduct trials and deliver verdicts quickly is the reason for this accumulation of cases.

If more than 100 rape-POCSO cases come before a court, the rules stipulate that a special court should be established there for this purpose. If a special court is established, the central government will bear 60 percent of the salaries of the judicial officer and seven staff members. The central government also bears a share of other expenses. The central government extends this support to state governments to prevent sexual offences against children. Kerala currently has 56 POCSO courts. Although the scheme for establishing special courts had been extended until the 30th of last month, it is understood that many states, including Kerala, did not take advantage of it. The Kerala High Court itself had directed the state government to take urgent action in this matter and establish courts as required by law. The central government had proposed setting up 790 fast-track courts exclusively to deal with POCSO -rape cases.

In 2021, trials were completed in 36470 cases. There were 12,80,000 pending cases. By 2022, verdicts had been delivered in 640,53 cases. At the end of the year, 1,90,000 cases were pending. In 2023, verdicts were delivered in 76349 cases. At the end of the year, two lakh cases remained pending. In 2024, verdicts were delivered in 85,595 cases. Two lakh cases were pending for completion of trial. In 2025, 66,500 cases were disposed of. As many as 2,40,000 cases remain pending. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal had himself stated in Parliament that, since the launch of the scheme to establish courts with central assistance, 1260 crore rupees had been provided to 29 states and Union Territories. The Union Minister also said that letters had been sent to state chief ministers and High Court Chief Justices urging them to ensure that cases were disposed of quickly without piling up. The minister said that the central government’s intention was to ensure that cases under the POCSO Act were tried and verdicts delivered within the prescribed time limit. The minister clarified that filling vacancies for judges, as well as establishing and maintaining courts, falls within the jurisdiction of the states.

Reference

News at a Glance: POCSO –rape cases are pending and piling up.2.4 lakh cases are piled up in courts

By the Numbers: In 2025, around 1.4 lakh cases were registered, but verdicts were delivered in only 66,500 cases, leaving approximately 2.4 lakh cases pending by the end of the year.

Academic Insight: The reason for increasing pending casesand piling up.Why special courts are not established by state governments.

On Our Reading List: Mathrubhumi, Manorama, Indian express, Times of India, Deshabhimani, Janambhumi

Article by: G K Suresh Babu

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