Bareilly: A significant book on the subject of child sexual abuse, titled “Child Sexual Abuse in India: A Comprehensive Treatise on POCSO”, has been published, shedding new light on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012. This pivotal legislation, enacted in 2012, was designed to address and curb sexual offences against children in India.
The book, authored by Dr. Amit Singh, Head of the Law Department at Rohilkhand University, and Advocate Preeti Verma, is published by Cheriyan Publications, New Delhi. It delves deeply into the issue of both physical and mental abuse of children, which the authors describe as a “silent pandemic” that robs children of their innocence, safety, and future. Despite the pervasive nature of the issue, societal stigma, fear, and silence have long obscured it from open discussion.
This comprehensive volume aims to break that silence by critically examining how the POCSO Act is implemented in real-world scenarios. It also explores the significant challenges faced by legal professionals, law enforcement, and child protection agencies, while highlighting the barriers that survivors encounter in their pursuit of justice and rehabilitation.
While POCSO is a progressive law, ensuring punishment for offenders and support for victims, its effectiveness has been marred by gaps in awareness, cultural resistance, and shortcomings in the judicial process. The book not only explains the provisions of the law but also provides an analytical perspective on its real-world impact.
Dr. Singh and Advocate Verma also explore the cultural, social, and psychological factors contributing to children’s vulnerability. They emphasize that societal complicity and silence must be addressed alongside legal measures. The authors argue that laws alone are insufficient; there is a pressing need for education, prevention, and a collective shift in societal mindset.
The book serves as a powerful reminder that children have long been excluded from conversations about their rights and protection. It aims to bring their voices to the forefront and encourages communities to take an active role in safeguarding their welfare.
Spanning 438 pages across 14 chapters, the book employs simple language to ensure accessibility for a broad readership, including students, legal practitioners, and the general public. The text is enriched with illustrations, making it particularly valuable for law students pursuing three-year LLB and five-year BA LLB programs. It also serves as a useful resource for candidates preparing for judicial services, legal officer, and prosecution officer examinations.
The book is available in electronic format (Kindle) and can be ordered online via platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, and other book retailers. Its foreword is written by Professor C.P. Singh, former Dean and Head of the Law Department at Lucknow University, a noted national-level legal author. He has praised the book and elaborated on its key insights in the foreword.
A Hindi edition of the book is also in the pipeline. Copies of the book are being respectfully submitted by the authors to the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India; Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India; the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights; and the Government of Uttar Pradesh for their review.
Dr. Amit Singh and Advocate Preeti Verma hope this work will act as both an eye-opener and a catalyst for action, encouraging professionals, policymakers, educators, and citizens alike to not only understand the law but also take an active role in combating child sexual abuse. They underline that this is a fight for justice, dignity, and the future of our children—a fight in which everyone has a part to play.
— Reported by Akhilesh Chandra Saxena from Bareilly
