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June 12, 2025 at 07:46 AM
🔆 POCSO Act: Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
📍 Context
âś… The Supreme Court of India reinforced that consuming sexually explicit content involving minors is a serious crime under the POCSO Act.
📍 About the Act
âś… POCSO Act 2012 is the first comprehensive law in India addressing child sexual abuse.
âś… Administered by: Ministry of Women and Child Development.
âś… Objectives:
- Protect children from sexual assault, harassment, and pornography.
- Establish Special Courts for speedy trials.
- Amended in 2019 to introduce stricter penalties for specific offences.
📍 Key Provisions
âś… Gender-neutral: Defines a child as any person under 18 years.
âś… Mandatory Reporting: Failure to report a sexual offence by a person in charge (excluding children) is punishable.
âś… No Time Limit: Abuse can be reported any time, even years later.
✅ Confidentiality: Prohibits disclosure of the victim’s identity in media unless approved by Special Courts.