Minor girl assaulted in August 2024; conviction comes eight months after case was filed
North & Middle Andaman | April 10, 2025: A Special Court in North & Middle Andaman has sentenced a man to three years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹10,000 for sexually assaulting a minor girl. The verdict, delivered on April 9 by Special Judge Subhajit Basu, pertains to an incident reported in August 2024 in Kalighat.
On August 25, 2024, a school-going girl was allegedly assaulted while returning home from a friend’s residence. The incident took place in the jurisdiction of Kalighat Police Station. Based on the complaint filed the same day, a case was registered under Sections 7 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and Sections 75(1)(i) and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The case led to an investigation and the filing of a charge sheet against the accused, Suren Mondal, under the relevant sections of law. The court found him guilty and handed down the sentence nearly eight months after the crime was reported.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 was enacted to address rising incidents of sexual crimes against children. It mandates child-sensitive procedures during investigation and trial, including special courts for faster disposal of cases.
The ruling adds to the growing number of convictions under the POCSO Act, aimed at protecting minors from sexual abuse. While the Act provides for speedy trial and strict penalties, the overall system still faces challenges due to delays in trial completion and case backlogs.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported 109 POCSO cases in 2022. Nationally, over 2.26 lakh POCSO trials were pending as of January 2022. While 410 dedicated POCSO courts were functional by May 2024, the overall trial completion rate remains under 10%.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has brought greater visibility to crimes against minors, but numbers suggest the system is under strain. Cases registered under the Act rose from 1,29,032 in 2017 to 1,48,090 in 2019. However, the rise in reporting has not been matched by the pace of justice delivery. The number of pending trials grew from 71,552 in 2015 to over 2.26 lakh by January 2022. Though more cases are reaching the trial stage, the percentage of completed trials remains stuck at 10%—a statistic that reflects the chronic backlog.
To address the gap, over 1,000 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) were set up across the country. Yet on average, each court disposes of just 28 cases a year. As of May 31, 2024, 410 exclusive POCSO Courts were functional, having disposed of 1,62,497 cases out of nearly 3 lakh registered since 2019.
Authorities in Andaman and Nicobar have appealed to residents to report any suspicious activity by contacting 100, 112, or 03192-273344. The identity of informants will remain confidential and may be eligible for rewards based on the information provided.
