Act 32 of 2012

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012

An Act to protect children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography and provide for establishment of Special Courts for trial of such offences and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

  • Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • Enacted 2012-06-19
  • 47 sections
SectionTitle
1 Short title, extent and commencement. Read
2 Definitions. Read
3 Penetrative sexual assault. Read
4 Punishment for penetrative sexual assault. Read
5 Aggravated penetrative sexual assault. Read
6 Punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault. Read
7 Sexual assault. Read
8 Punishment for sexual assault. Read
9 Aggravated sexual assault. Read
10 Punishment for aggravated sexual assault. Read
11 Sexual harassment. Read
12 Punishment for sexual harassment. Read
13 Use of child for pornographic purposes. Read
14 Punishment for using child for pornographic purposes. Read
15 Punishment for storage of pornographic material involving child. Read
16 Abetment of an offence. Read
17 Punishment for abetment. Read
18 Punishment for attempt to commit an offence. Read
19 Reporting of offences. Read
20 Obligation of media, studio and photographic facilities to report cases. Read
21 Punishment for failure to report or record a case. Read
22 Punishment for false complaint or false information. Read
23 Procedure for media. Read
24 Recording of statement of a child. Read
25 Recording of statement of a child by Magistrate. Read
26 Additional provisions regarding statement to be recorded. Read
27 Medical examination of a child. Read
28 Designation of Special Courts. Read
29 Presumption as to certain offences. Read
30 Presumption of culpable mental state. Read
31 Application of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to proceedings before a Special Court. Read
32 Special Public Prosecutors. Read
33 Procedure and powers of Special Court. Read
34 Procedure in case of commission of offence by child and determination of age by Special Court. Read
35 Period for recording of evidence of child and disposal of case. Read
36 Child not to see accused at the time of testifying. Read
37 Trials to be conducted in camera. Read
38 Assistance of an interpreter or expert while recording evidence of child. Read
39 Guidelines for child to take assistance of experts, etc. Read
40 Right of child to take assistance of legal practitioner. Read
41 Provisions of sections 3 to 13 not to apply in certain cases. Read
42 Alternative punishment. Read
42A Act not in derogation of any other law. Read
43 Public awareness about Act. Read
44 Monitoring of implementation of Act. Read
45 Power to make rules. Read
46 Power to remove difficulties. Read
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