Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala state police chief Anil Kant has issued a directive to all district police chiefs stating that cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act must not be investigated by officers below the rank of sub-inspector. This decision comes after it was discovered that there were lapses in the investigation of such cases by grade SIs and ASIs. The Assistant Public Prosecutor of Kottayam had brought this matter to the attention of the Superintendent of Police.

Previously, it had been ordered that POCSO cases should be supervised by a female officer not below the rank of inspector. As per a High Court order, women IPS officers must oversee the investigation of such cases. Loknath Behra, the then-Director General of Police, had issued instructions. According to these instructions, within 48 hours of registering a case, the police must appoint a liaison officer who will interact with the complainant's family and the victim, and assist in the prosecution process.