The report of a woman being convicted for misusing the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in East Siang district shows how laws can be used to settle personal scores. In this particular case, she reportedly made her sister file a false case of rape against her own husband. The POCSO Act has been framed especially for the protection of the children. It is deeply disturbing to witness misuse of such an important Act. This kind of act dilutes the sanctity of a very critical law framed for the protection of the minors.
This is for the first time that such kind of misuse of law has come out in public. There are possibilities many others might be suffering in silence. In this case, the husband was lucky as the court took note of the misuse of the Act and sentenced his wife instead. But others may not be lucky like him. People should be sensitised to how misuse of laws can land themselves in trouble. Hopefully, this judgment will send out a strong message to such people. Those who misuse laws to settle personal enmity do immense disservice to the people who are actually suffering from crimes committed on them.