Profile of Alleged Accused in Sexual Offence Cases Examined in Kilpauk Medical College – Chennai- A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Despite strict laws like POCSO (Protection of Children Against Sexual Offenses), the cases of sexual violence against children are not declining in India, relatively it is snowballing year by year. Apart from metros, such heinous crimes are being carried out in small towns as well. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report for the year 2020 states that 47,221 cases of child sexual abuse were registered in the country. Most of the victims in these cases were girls. According to NCRB, the maximum happenings of sexual violence and sexual abuse happened with girls aged 16 to 18 years. Activists working in this field say that many times the cases do not reach the police or the family overpowers them for fear of defamation. The POCSO Act was enacted years ago to protect children from sexual abuse. The question is, has the law been successful in rewarding its objective? According to the 2016 to 2020 (NCRB) report, the number of reported child sexual abuse cases increased from 36,321 in 2016 to over 47,000 in 2020. This is an increase of 31 percent. According to experts, this number is also just the tip of the iceberg. In the 2020 report of NCRB, it has been said that only 36 percent of the crimes against children are registered under POCSO. The research paper examines the retrospective study of the alleged accused in sexual offence cases examined in Kilpauk Medical College.