Rajeev Chandrasekhar's official website - Member of Parliament

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Women and Child Development

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 947
TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.03.2016
Shortage of Special Public Prosecutors in POCSO Courts

947. Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar 

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:-

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Ministry is aware that there is acute shortage of Special Public Prosecutors appointed to serve in Special Courts under section 32(1) of the POCSO Act; and

(b) if so, the steps being taken by the Ministry to ensure that Special POCSO Courts in all districts of the country appoint Special Public Prosecutors, including the time-line by which Government would fill these vacancies?

Answer
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a) to (b) As reported by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), there are 605 special Courts across the country and 478 Special Public Prosecutors have since been appointed under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Section 44 of the POCSO Act, 2012 empowers the NCPCR and State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) for monitoring the implementation of the provisions of this Act. Section 32 of POCSO Act interalia provides that the State Government shall appoint a Special Public Prosecutor for every Special Court for conducting cases only under the provision of this Act. However, the Ministry has been requesting to State/UTs from time to time to implement the provisions of POCSO Act 2012.

Top