The Supreme Court of India has issued crucial directions to all States and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure the deployment of Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) at police stations and to appoint support persons under Section 39 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. These directions were issued in a writ petition filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, highlighting systemic lapses in support mechanisms provided to child victims of sexual offences.
A Bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice K.V. Viswanathan directed State authorities to reassess their existing mechanisms and file updated compliance data, ensuring proper victim support under the POCSO framework.
Key Highlights
- Supreme Court mandates States/UTs to deploy Para Legal Volunteers in police stations.
- Court stresses the urgent need for support persons under Section 39 POCSO Act.
- Several States show major gaps in PLV deployment and support person appointments.
- Chief Secretaries may be required to appear through video conferencing if compliance is lacking.
- Over 2 lakh pending POCSO cases underscore the need for immediate action.
Background of the Petition
The petition, filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), raised concerns about:
- Insufficient deployment of PLVs across police stations.
- Lack of support persons for child victims under POCSO.
- Inadequate allocation of funds by State governments.
- Failure to implement schemes mandated by National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
The Court took note of the urgent issues affecting child protection and decided to examine State-wise compliance based on data submitted in NALSA’s status report dated November 29, 2025.
Deployment of Para Legal Volunteers: Stark Disparities Across States
The petitioner informed the Court that many States had taken a casual approach toward deploying PLVs at police stations, despite clear guidelines and schemes in place.
State-Wise Gaps in PLV Deployment
NALSA’s report revealed alarming discrepancies:
- Andhra Pradesh: PLVs in 42 out of 919 police stations
- Manipur: 1 out of 90
- Odisha: 30 out of 612
- Delhi: 50 out of 204
- Tamil Nadu: 0 out of 1,577
- Maharashtra: 283 out of 1,226
- Karnataka: 50 out of 1,099
- Uttar Pradesh: 1,037 out of 1,602
Some States had not notified the PLV scheme at all, including:
- Bihar
- Haryana
Meanwhile, a few small jurisdictions had achieved full compliance:
- Ladakh
- Chandigarh
- Meghalaya
- Sikkim
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
The Court expressed dissatisfaction with the wide disparity and questioned States on delays and non-implementation.
When asked for explanations, counsel representing Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Manipur, and Jammu & Kashmir requested additional time to obtain instructions. Notably, Jammu & Kashmir had no legal representation present.
Supreme Court’s Directions on PLV Deployment
The Court directed all States and UTs to:
- Verify the accuracy of PLV deployment data submitted by NALSA.
- Take immediate steps to empanel and deploy PLVs at every police station “as far as practicable.”
- Consider practical challenges, such as distances and location of police stations.
- File updated compliance reports on:
- Notified schemes
- Empanelment status
- Availability of funds
- Actual deployment in each police station
The bench also issued a strict warning:
“In the event PLVs have not been empanelled or sufficient funds are not apportioned, the Chief Secretaries of the respective States/UTs shall remain present before this Court via video conferencing.”
The matter has been adjourned to allow State counsels to seek instructions and file updated reports.
Support Persons Under Section 39 POCSO Act: Severe Shortage Noted
Alongside PLV deployment, the Court took note of severe gaps in the appointment of *support persons—a crucial requirement under *Section 39 of the POCSO Act. Support persons assist child victims through:
- Legal guidance
- Emotional support
- Coordination with authorities
- Court-related assistance
Data Presented Before the Court
According to the petitioner’s chart:
- 202,175 pending POCSO cases as of December 2023
- 10,095 support persons required as per NCPCR guidelines
- Only 3,224 support persons appointed across India
This reveals a shortage of 6,871 support persons nationally.
State-Level Insights
- Uttar Pradesh:
- Pending cases: 84,778
- Support persons required: 4,238
- Appointed: 484
- Kerala:
- Required: 370
- Appointed: 959
- One of the few States with surplus appointments
Several States had no data for appointed support persons:
- Andhra Pradesh
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Goa
- Himachal Pradesh
- Lakshadweep
- Manipur
- Puducherry
- Odisha
The Court noted a nationwide shortage in the empanelment and deployment of support persons, undermining the effectiveness of POCSO implementation.
Supreme Court’s Directions on Support Persons
The Court instructed all States and UTs to:
- Reassess the number of pending POCSO cases in their jurisdiction.
- Determine the exact number of support persons required in compliance with NCPCR guidelines.
- Provide updated reports detailing:
- Support persons appointed
- Steps taken to fill vacancies
- Timeline for compliance
The Bench emphasised that child victims need holistic support during investigation and trial, and the absence of support persons significantly hampers their access to justice.
Court’s Observations on State Responsibility
The Bench noted that:
- Many States had not notified schemes for support persons or PLVs.
- In others, schemes were notified but not implemented due to lack of funds.
- Absence of support severely impacts the psychological well-being of child survivors.
The Court reiterated that both PLVs and support persons play a vital role in ensuring:
- Meaningful access to justice
- Protection during the investigation
- Guidance during court processes
- Implementation of victim-friendly procedures as envisioned under the POCSO Act
Conclusion
This Supreme Court order marks a significant step in strengthening the implementation of the POCSO Act, 2012 across India. With over 2 lakh pending cases, the need for Para Legal Volunteers and support persons has never been more urgent. The Court’s directive to compel Chief Secretaries to attend hearings if non-compliance continues underscores the seriousness of the issue.
By reinforcing the mandatory role of PLVs and support persons, the Court aims to ensure that child victims of sexual offences receive the support, protection, and guidance they are legally entitled to.
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