Over 18,700 POCSO Cases Pending in Tamil Nadu: Gaps in Support Services Compound Trauma for Child Victims
As of June 2026, Tamil Nadu's courts are grappling with 18,733 pending cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. While the volume of pending cases is a major concern, advocates and social workers point out that the lack of adequate support services for children navigating the justice system is equally troubling.
The POCSO Court in Madurai has the highest pendency with 1,000 unresolved cases, followed by Tiruppur’s Fast Track Mahila Court (790 cases), Chennai’s POCSO Court (747 cases), and the Tenkasi Principal District Court (702 cases).
In 2019, the Supreme Court directed that a special court exclusively for POCSO cases be set up in any judicial district with over 100 pending cases. However, among Tamil Nadu's 38 districts, 37 exceed this threshold, yet only 20 special POCSO courts exist.
In 2023, the Madras High Court's Registrar proposed establishing eight additional special courts in Erode, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, The Nilgiris, Ramanathapuram, Tiruchi, Tiruvarur, and Tiruppur. These courts have not been set up yet, according to Vidya Reddy of Tulir-CPCHSA, a child rights organization.
The pendency is only part of the problem. Child victims must undergo a lengthy legal process that can be re-traumatizing. The law provides for several support measures, but implementation remains weak. Social sector interventions—such as assistance in filing complaints, translation services, and home-based statement recording—are often not fully realized.
For instance, medical examinations are required within 24 hours, and families are entitled to a copy of the report. In practice, many families do not receive it, Ms. Reddy noted. Similarly, the Child Welfare Committee must appoint a support person for each case, but delays are common. In one recent case, a support person was appointed late, leading to a child presenting for an abortion at 24 weeks, necessitating a rushed court order.
An official from the Social Welfare Department stated that the government has empaneled support persons at the district level and is developing a standard operating procedure to streamline appointments and case monitoring.
After an FIR is filed, families are entitled to immediate special relief to cover emergency expenses, but this is rarely granted due to lack of awareness. In one case, a mother had to pawn her jewelry for immediate costs. While interim relief disbursement has improved later, the initial gap persists.
The police must complete investigations and file chargesheets within 90 days. Overall, they have largely met this deadline, but systemic delays in court proceedings and support services continue to hinder justice.
