In Brief

The Supreme Court addressed protections for children in sexual abuse cases under the POCSO Act, 2012. The Court held that states must establish exclusive POCSO courts based on caseload (one court per 100+ cases, two courts per 300+ cases) and appoint specialized Public Prosecutors exclusively for these courts. The Court emphasized that POCSO prosecutors must receive training in child psychology, trauma, and empathy—not just legal training—to effectively handle vulnerable child witnesses. Detailed affidavits and action plans were directed from states, with orders for development of comprehensive training programmes across judicial academies nationwide.

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