SHILLONG, OCT 13: Over 300 cases against children are pending for trial in special courts set up in the six districts of the state for the past five years. According to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the special courts are expected to dispose of POCSO related cases within a period of one year.
Over the years Meghalaya have witnessed an upward trend in crimes against women and children beside registering low conviction rate wherein only four accused have been convicted so far.
Out of 318 pending cases in the special courts, 93 are in East Khasi Hills District, 38 in West Khasi Hills District, 100 in Ri Bhoi District, 42 in West Jaintia Hills District, 39 in West Garo Hills District and 6 in East Garo Hills District.
Besides, 99 cases of crimes against children are also lying pending with the District Council Court in East Khasi Hills District till September 30, this year.
Expressing concern over the issue, Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) chairperson Meena Kharkongor said such cases should be disposed of within one year as per the POCSO Act.
She felt trials of such cases have to be speed up as these are sensitive issues as the age of the victims is growing and if delayed they will be unnecessary subjected to prolong trauma.
“We need separate courts to exclusively trial cases relating to crimes against women and children in the state to ensure faster conviction and disposal. The commission had already recommended this to the government,” she added.
However, five other districts are yet to be equipped with special court, which is mandated by the POCSO Act.
When asked, Kharkongor said that the cases pending in the District Council Court are not being taken up under the POCSO Act but were taken up as regular cases under sections 375 and 376 of the Indian Penalty Code (IPC).
Kharkongor informed that she had written to the Law department to transfer these cases to the special courts as the POCSO Act have come into force since 2012:- By Our Reporter
We are Glad to have someone Like Madam Meena Kharkongor..If Govt takes no action to set up immediately as recommended, separate courts to exclusively try cases relating to crimes against women and children in the state to ensure faster conviction and disposal and also fails to immediately transfer cases from Dist Council Court, it means they have no interest to speed up cases of crimes against children and children.. …