New Delhi: In 2025, a total of 80,320 POCSO cases were filed, while 87,754 cases were disposed of, taking the national disposal rate to 109 percent, according to a new study released by the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change (C-LAB) for Children, an initiative of India Child Protection.
The study, titled “Pendency to Protection: Achieving the Tipping Point to Justice for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse,” describes this development as a critical “tipping point” where the justice system begins to actively reduce long-standing case backlogs instead of merely managing them. As of 2023, India’s POCSO case pendency stood at 2.62 lakh cases, often reinforcing public perceptions of delayed justice.
The report notes that 24 states have recorded disposal rates exceeding 100 percent, indicating that these states not only cleared newly registered cases but also disposed of cases pending from previous years. Among them, seven states and Union Territories achieved disposal rates above 150 percent, while another seven reported rates between 121 and 150 percent.
However, the study flags serious structural concerns. Nearly half of all pending POCSO cases have remained unresolved for more than two years, exacerbating trauma for child survivors. Uttar Pradesh alone accounts for 37 percent of cases pending for over five years, followed by Maharashtra (24 percent) and West Bengal (11 percent). Together, these three states contribute to nearly three-fourths of long-term pendency nationwide.
Calling for urgent systemic strengthening, the report recommends the establishment of 600 additional e-POCSO courts to eliminate the entire backlog within four years. It estimates that an allocation of ₹1,977 crore over four years would be required, suggesting that the Nirbhaya Fund could be utilised for this purpose.
Commenting on the findings, Purujit Praharaj, Director (Research), India Child Protection, said that India has reached a decisive moment in its response to child sexual abuse. “When the system begins disposing of more POCSO cases than it registers, it signals a shift from intent to impact. Prolonged judicial delays deepen trauma for child survivors. Sustaining this momentum is crucial to ensure timely and child-centred justice,” he said.
The report also highlights fluctuating conviction rates and stark inter-state disparities in case outcomes. It recommends consistent year-on-year disposal rates above 100 percent across all states, enhanced administrative and technical support to lagging judiciaries, and closer monitoring of conviction and acquittal trends.
To improve efficiency, the study advocates the use of AI-powered legal research tools and digital document management systems to speed up case analysis and retrieval. The findings are based on data analysed up to December 2, 2025, drawn from the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and responses tabled in Lok Sabha.
India Child Protection is a partner organisation of Just Rights for Children, a national network of over 250 NGOs working across 451 districts on child protection and child rights.
