GANDHINAGAR: There is a need to enforce the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act very stringently, minister of state for home Harsh Sanghavi said on Sunday. He was speaking at a western region meeting on “POCSO: Factors Hindering the Implementation and Aspects of Assistance to Victims” at the National Forensic Sciences University in Gandhinagar.
Sanghavi said that the state government has set an example of delivering quick justice in cases where crimes have been committed against minors.
Citing instances where judgments in POCSO cases have been delivered in a record time, the minister praised the police force and the judiciary for an effective enforcement of the act.
Commenting on various factors that were still hindering effective implementation of the act, the minister said that these issues will be resolved through consultations with all stakeholders.
The minister said that Gujarat has been striving to increase the conviction rate in cases where minors are involved, and thanked the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) for its assistance in such cases. He said that investigating officers in POCSO cases, forensic experts, advocates and public prosecutors in such cases will be sensitized about handling POCSO-related cases with utmost care and ensuring quick delivery of justice.
