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The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012

Central

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.

Act number
32 of 2012
Ministry
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Enacted
19 Jun 2012

Source: IndiaCode Portal, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Open on India Code Check against the official text before relying on it.

47 sections

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