POCSO 21Chapter V · Procedure for Reporting of Cases
Section 21 · Punishment for failure to report or record a case
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(1) Any person, who fails to report the
commission of an offence under sub-section (1) of section 19 or section 20 or who fails to record such
offence under sub-section (2) of section 19 shall be punished with imprisonment of either description
which may extend to six months or with fine or with both.
(2) Any person, being in-charge of any company or an institution (by whatever name called) who fails to report the commission of an offence under sub-section (1) of section 19 in respect of a subordinate under his control, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and with fine.
(3) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply to a child under this Act.
(2) Any person, being in-charge of any company or an institution (by whatever name called) who fails to report the commission of an offence under sub-section (1) of section 19 in respect of a subordinate under his control, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and with fine.
(3) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply to a child under this Act.
The offence at a glance
- Maximum punishment
- 1 year
- Fine
- Fine — no statutory ceiling, the court decides
- Cognizable
- Non-cognizable
- Bailable
- Bailable
- Compoundable
- Not compoundable
- Triable by
- Special court
- Non-cognizable — Police cannot investigate without a Magistrate's order
- Bailable — Bail is your right — it can be granted at the police station
Sub-sections of this section carry different penalties; the maximum is shown.
Under this Act's own provision
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