Delhi LG orders POCSO audit of schools
Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Tuesday directed a comprehensive audit of schools across the Capital to assess their adherence to the provisions and guidelines of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The LG also ordered the State Education Department to enforce strict compliance and initiate firm action against institutions found lacking in the implementation of the Act. The LG has also directed that every school must have the mandatory dedicated Child Protection Committee that should meet regularly to monitor the environment.
He further instructed the authorities to observe July as the Child Protection month and carry out a dedicated, city-wide one-month Child Protection campaign- to provide widespread awareness and mandatory training to all stakeholders. He also directed that a comprehensive report of the campaign’s execution and outcomes be submitted to him.
Delhi registered 1,553 cases in 2024 under the POCSO Act. Mumbai followed closely with 1,416 cases, while Bengaluru recorded 594 cases. The data reflects concerns regarding the safety of children in urban areas, especially in the national Capital. Police filed chargesheets in 61 of every 100 registered cases during 2024, while more than nine in 10 cases before courts remained pending at the end of the year.
The LG also directed that a detailed report must be provided on the exact actions that have been taken, or is planned to be taken, against the defaulters.
Further directing the law enforcement agencies, the LG instructed the Delhi Police to ensure robust and visible deployment around school premises and prominent student hubs. He stressed that police presence must be intensified, particularly during school dispersal hours, to proactively deter any untoward incidents and strengthen public confidence.
Emphasizing a strict zero-tolerance approach towards eve-teasing, harassment, and molestation of women and children, the LG categorically stated that women’s safety is non-negotiable.
Reaffirming that the safety, dignity, and well-being of every student cannot be compromised at any level, he stated that the administration remains firmly committed to building a secure, fearless, and protective environment for every child in Delhi.
