A first — India disposed of more POCSO cases than registered
80,320 cases registered in 2025, and 87,754 settled, says study by Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change
India has, for the first time, disposed of more cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in a year than it registered, according to a new study released on Thursday.
The report, ‘Pendency to Protection: Achieving the Tipping Point to Justice for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse’, found that in 2025, a total of 80,320 POCSO cases were registered across the country, while 87,754 cases were disposed of. This resulted in a disposal rate of 109 per cent. The study was conducted by the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change (C-LAB) for Children, an initiative of India Child Protection.
The report noted that India’s POCSO case backlog stood at 2,62,089 cases until 2023, but the latest data marks a shift where the justice system has begun reducing pendency. “India is now at a tipping point in its response to child sexual abuse,” said Purujit Praharaj, Director (Research), India Child Protection.
India Child Protection is partner of Just Rights for Children, which is the largest network of NGOs with over 250 partners working in 451 districts across the country for child protection and child rights.
The study said 24 states and Union Territories recorded disposal rates above 100 per cent in 2025, indicating that courts cleared both current and older cases.
However, it flagged concerns over long delays, noting that nearly half of pending cases remain unresolved for over two years. Uttar Pradesh accounted for 37 per cent of cases pending for more than five years, followed by Maharashtra and West Bengal.
To clear the entire backlog within four years, the report recommended setting up 600 additional e-POCSO courts at an estimated cost of Rs 1,977 crore, suggesting the use of the Nirbhaya Fund.
The analysis is based on data from the National Judicial Data Grid, NCRB and parliamentary records.
