Punishment for false complaint or false information
Section 22 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 deals with punishment for false complaint or false information. Any person, who makes false complaint or provides false information against any person, in respect of an offence committed under sections 3, 5, 7 and section 9, solely with the intention to humiliate, extort or threaten or defame him, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend t The Act came into force on 14 Nov 2012.
(1) Any person, who makes false complaint or provides false information against any person, in respect of an offence committed under sections 3, 5, 7 and section 9, solely with the intention to humiliate, extort or threaten or defame him, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine or with both.
(2) Where a false complaint has been made or false information has been provided by a child, no punishment shall be imposed on such child.
(3) Whoever, not being a child, makes a false complaint or provides false information against a child, knowing it to be false, thereby victimizing such child in any of the offences under this Act, shall be punished with imprisonment, which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.
Section 22, The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (Act 32 of 2012).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Questions about Section 22
What does Section 22 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act deal with?
Section 22 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act is headed "Punishment for false complaint or false information". Any person, who makes false complaint or provides false information against any person, in respect of an offence committed under sections 3, 5, 7 and section 9, solely with the intention to humiliate, extort or threaten or defame him, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend t
How do I find court cases under Section 22 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Pocso Act 22, section 22 Pocso Act, section 22 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 22 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 3 (Penetrative sexual assault), section 5 (Aggravated penetrative sexual assault), section 7 (Sexual assault), section 9 (Aggravated sexual assault), so none of them can safely be read on its own.
When did Section 22 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act come into force?
Section 22 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, cited as Pocso Act 22, came into force on 14 Nov 2012, having been enacted on 19 Jun 2012. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 9. Aggravated sexual assault813 words
- 5. Aggravated penetrative sexual assault811 words
- 33. Procedure and powers of Special Court395 words
- 2. Definitions340 words
- 19. Reporting of offences338 words
- 45. Power to make rules323 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.