Several cases of rape committed against minors have been expedited in courts over the last six months, with the judiciary treating forensic DNA testing results as conclusive evidence. Across states, courts are emphasising the scientific evaluation of evidence to convict the guilty, as survivors and their families are seen to go hostile during the trial. This pattern has emerged particularly in cases that are heard by special courts set up to provide protection to children from offences of sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012. This is a significant trend considering the surge in cases of sexual violence against children during the nationwide lockdown in place since March 25 to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.

While there has been a drop in overall crime including rape cases across India, lower reporting of sexual crime during the lockdown is also a factor keeping the numbers down. Contrary to public perception, a resurgence of sexual offenses against young women and children have been observed in states like Delhi, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana over the last month. In most of these cases, the accused are either family, friends, or neighbours of the victims.