The report, titled ‘Pendency to Protection’ shows that Delhi courts achieved a milestone in 2025,disposing of 1,792 POCSO cases against 1,006 new filings, giving the capital the nation’s second highest disposal rate.
New Delhi: A recent report has highlighted a significant achievement by Delhi courts in handling cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. In 2025, these courts disposed of a remarkable 1,792 POCSO cases, surpassing the 1,006 newly registered cases for that year.
This accomplishment has positioned Delhi as having the second-highest disposal rate in the country, at an impressive 178%.
The report, titled ‘Pendency to Protection: Achieving the Tipping Point to Justice for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse‘, was compiled by the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change for Children, an initiative by India Child Protection.
Also Read: We Have Built Temples of Justice With Doors Too Narrow: CJI Gavai on Case Pendency
It emphasizes the significant progress made in reducing the backlog of pending POCSO cases compared to previous years.
On a national scale, courts across India disposed of 87,754 POCSO cases in 2025, significantly exceeding the 80,320 newly filed cases, resulting in a national disposal rate of 109%. In addition, 24 states and Union Territories achieved disposal rates above 100%, with Delhi trailing only behind Chhattisgarh for the highest rate.
Purujit Praharaj, Director (Research), India Child Protection, said :
“India is now at a tipping point in its response to child sexual abuse. When the system begins to dispose of more POCSO cases than it registers, it moves from intent to impact. Our research consistently shows that prolonged delays intensify trauma for child survivors. Sustaining this momentum is essential if timely, child-centred justice is to become the norm rather than the exception.”
Also Read: Assam’s Chirang District Achieves Unprecedented ‘Zero’ Case Pendency in CJM Court
The data cited in the report comes from the National Judicial Data Grid, the National Crime Records Bureau, and updates regarding Lok Sabha inquiries as of December 2, 2025.
The report says that,
“This suggests that pendency begins to accumulate early in the lifecycle of a case and that the system faces challenges in moving cases forward within the expected time frame,
As of 2023, the nationwide backlog for POCSO cases stands at a staggering 262,089. To address this issue and eliminate the pendency within four years, the report recommends the establishment of 600 additional e-POCSO courts across the country, estimating a cost of ₹1,977 crore for this initiative.
It advocates for utilizing the Nirbhaya Fund to support these efforts.
The report further suggests that all states and Union Territories should aim for a year-on-year disposal rate exceeding 100%. It emphasizes the need to offer technical and administrative assistance to those state judiciaries that may be falling behind.
Additionally, the report calls for thorough monitoring of both conviction and acquittal rates. To enhance the efficiency of case analysis and document retrieval, it also advocates for the adoption of AI-driven legal research tools and document management systems.
The progress made in Delhi courts reflects a commendable commitment to justice for child victims of sexual abuse, setting a benchmark for other regions in the country to follow.
As the justice system advances toward reducing pendency, the ongoing implementation of these recommendations will be crucial for maintaining this momentum and ensuring the swift delivery of justice.