This story is from July 4, 2020

In Patna, lack of chargesheet drags cases of child sexual abuse

Special public prosecutor (POCSO court, Patna) Suresh Chandra Prasad has alleged that chargesheet has not been submitted in many cases even in seven-year-old cases related to offences committed under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He said at least 261 cases lodged in relation to offences under POCSO Act were awaiting filing of chargesheet by the end of 2019.
In Patna, lack of chargesheet drags cases of child sexual abuse
Representative image
PATNA: Special public prosecutor (POCSO court, Patna) Suresh Chandra Prasad has alleged that chargesheet has not been submitted in many cases even in seven-year-old cases related to offences committed under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He said at least 261 cases lodged in relation to offences under POCSO Act were awaiting filing of chargesheet by the end of 2019.
“At least two cases from Patna are of year 2013.
Police have so far not filed chargesheets against the accused people in these cases. At least 15 more cases under POCSO Act from year 2015 are also awaiting filing of chargesheet. There are many such cases from 2016, 2017 and 2018 too,” Prasad said.
While in routine criminal cases, chargesheet is filed in court in 90 days, it comes down to 60 days in cases under POCSO Act.
“I had written to DGP and SSP about the matter. However, large number of cases are still pending in want of chargesheet against the accused people,” Prasad said.
He said altogether 119 cases under POCSO Act have been registered with different police stations in Patna district since January this year. “Out of these cases, police have filed chargesheets in 21 cases only,” he said.
According to the POSCO court records, 191 cases were registered with different police stations in Patna district in 2016 and 194 in 2017. The count of cases jumped to 250 in 2018 and 244 in 2019.
IG (central range)
Sanjay Singh said such old cases under POCSO Act should not be pending for filing of chargesheet. “If old cases are still pending, I will look into the matter and get them disposed by filing chargesheet as soon as possible,” he added.
“Cases of rape, gang rape, POCSO Act and SC/ST Act always get priority for filing of chargehseet and speedy trial. In POCSO Act cases, police try to file chargesheet in 60 days as per law. Sometimes, however, the process gets delayed,” he added.
The IG said he has already asked police officers to ensure filing of chargesheet within two months and speedy trial in gang-rape and rape cases in which minor girls are victims.
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