(2020–May 2025)

■ Total POCSO cases: 16,994

■ Top district – Rachakonda: 2,619

■ Convictions: 188

■ Cases under trial: 12,771

■ Accused arrested: 15,634

■ Accused pending arrest: 8,979

■ Compensation paid in 2024: Rs 5.42 crore

Ekalavya mallepalli | Hyderabad 

A grim picture of child safety has emerged in Telangana as a total of 16,994 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act were registered across the state between January 2020 and May 2025. The data, obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) request by Youth for Anti-Corruption (YAC) founder Rajendra Palnati, reveals a justice system struggling to deliver outcomes in time.

At the top of the list is Rachakonda Commissionerate, with the highest number of POCSO cases — 2,619, followed by Hyderabad (2,293) and Cyberabad (2,026). Together, these three urban regions account for more than 40% of all cases registered in the state, pointing to a widespread and growing crisis in child protection.

Despite the high number of cases reported, only 188 have resulted in convictions. A massive 12,771 cases remain under trial, reflecting a conviction rate of barely 1% over five years. Law enforcement has arrested 15,634 accused, but 8,979 suspects are still pending arrest, exposing significant enforcement gaps and delays in the judicial system.

Rajendra Palnati, who filed the RTI, expressed deep concern over the figures. “The number of cases shows that victims are coming forward, but the painfully slow pace of justice discourages them in the long run,” he said. “By the time many cases reach court, the victims—who were minors when the offence occurred—have become adults, some even married, and often withdraw due to stigma or social pressure. Justice must not take years,” he added.

He urged the government to establish fast-track POCSO courts across the state. “Swift, sure justice is the only deterrent. Otherwise, repeat offenders will feel emboldened, and more children will fall victim to these crimes,” Palnati stated. In 2024 alone, the state reported 87 rape cases involving children under 15 and 1,970 cases involving minors aged between 15 and 18. That year, compensation worth Rs 5.42 crore was disbursed to survivors in 428 cases.

Child rights activists warn that without urgent reforms—including real-time tracking of trials, police accountability, and victim-sensitive processes—POCSO will remain a toothless law. Rachakonda’s troubling lead in the statistics has become a symbol of the urgent need for change.