Gandhinagar, September 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Gujarat courts have delivered 1,785 verdicts in cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act between 2022 and August 2026, with 908 accused sentenced to life imprisonment and 16 handed death sentences, according to figures released by the state government.
The data also highlights a faster pace of investigation and trial in such cases, with police filing chargesheets in a large number of cases within 45 days and fast-track courts taking up matters for early disposal.
In a recent case in Kalol, a Special POCSO Court sentenced a 42-year-old man to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life within 72 hours of the police filing the chargesheet in a case involving the alleged abduction and sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl.
The number of POCSO judgments increased steadily, from 194 in 2022 to 499 in 2025. During the first eight months of 2026, courts have already delivered 346 verdicts, including 241 life sentences and two death sentences.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the state government had adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards sexual offences against children and was working to ensure that victims and their families did not have to wait for years for justice.
“There can be no mercy or leniency for anyone who casts an evil eye on girls in Gujarat. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state government has established fast-track courts and a robust legal framework for POCSO cases,” Sanghavi said.
He said the Kalol verdict, delivered within 72 hours of the chargesheet being filed, demonstrated the quality of investigation by the Gujarat Police and the judiciary’s strict approach in such cases.
Director General of Police G.S. Malik said investigations into POCSO cases were being conducted with sensitivity while maintaining speed and firmness.
“To ensure speedy justice for victims and their families, the police are particularly focussing on a three-pronged approach of ‘thorough investigation, strict action and speedy justice’ during the investigation process,” Malik said.
According to the police, every POCSO case is being monitored to ensure timely filing of chargesheets and transfer of cases to fast-track courts without unnecessary delay.
The data shows that chargesheets were filed within one to 15 days in 140 cases, while investigations were completed within 16 to 30 days in 1,339 cases. Another 5,463 cases saw chargesheets filed within 31 to 45 days.
The state government said the figures indicate that a large majority of POCSO investigations are being completed within the 45-day period, enabling trials to begin sooner and courts to deliver verdicts at a faster pace.
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