Deployment impacted by geographical constraints, data before SC show
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 21
Nagaland has deployed para legal volunteers (PLVs) in only a limited number of police stations, with the majority still uncovered, according to recent data placed before the Supreme Court of India.
As per the data, Nagaland has 84 police stations, but PLVs have been deployed in only 25, leaving 59 stations without volunteers. However, deployment in the remaining police stations has been impacted by geographical hindrances, it indicated.
The data were submitted by senior counsel for the petitioner representing Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which filed a public interest litigation raising concerns over the uneven and inadequate implementation of the PLV scheme across States and Union Territories (UTs), particularly in cases involving offences against children.
Accordingly, the Supreme Court noted that several States and UTs have been “casual” in implementing the scheme mandating the presence of PLVs at police stations to assist victims of crime, especially children. While some States have fully implemented the scheme, others have failed to notify or operationalise it effectively due to lack of funds or administrative delays, it held.
While Nagaland has been categorised among States where deployment in remaining police stations has been affected by geographical hindrances, the apex court underlined that practical challenges cannot override the need to ensure access to legal assistance for vulnerable victims at the police station level.
To this end, the two-judge Bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice KV Viswanathan on December 1 directed all States and UTs to verify the current status of PLV deployment and take corrective steps where volunteers have not been empanelled or adequately funded. It further cautioned that Chief Secretaries would be required to appear before the Court via video conferencing if compliance remains unsatisfactory.
Support persons under POCSO
The Court also reviewed the appointment of support persons under Section 39 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, who are meant to assist child victims throughout investigation, trial and rehabilitation.
For Nagaland, the data revealed that as of December, a total of 51 POCSO cases were pending. As per an affidavit filed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on October 24, 2024, Nagaland had appointed four support persons against the two required under NCPCR guidelines.
However, across India, out of 10,095 support persons required, only 3,224 had been appointed. A total of 202,175 POCSO cases were also pending nationwide.
The Court described the overall availability of support persons across States as “grossly inadequate” and directed all States to reassess the number of pending POCSO cases and urgently appoint the required support personnel.
The Supreme Court further directed Member Secretary of State Legal Services Authorities to take proactive steps to empanel PLVs and support persons in coordination with district courts and Departments of Women and Child Development.
It also empowered Special POCSO Courts to ensure that support persons are provided to child victims where gaps persist.
All States and Union Territories have been asked to file updated affidavits detailing the status of PLV deployment and support person appointments before the next hearing, scheduled for February 10, 2026.
The Court also instructed the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to communicate its directions to all State Legal Services Authorities to ensure uniform implementation.
