The framing of the Act seeks to put children first by making it easy to use by including mechanisms for child-friendly reporting, recording of evidence, investigation and speedy trial of offences through designated Special Courts.
With respect to pornography, the act also criminalizes watching or collection of pornographic content involving children.
[17][18][19] It also provides for various procedural reforms, making the tiring process of trial in India considerably easier for children.
The child friendly process aims to minimize trauma felt by the victim, eliminate the possibility of revictimization and to protect against intimidation.
[20] A Victim of Child Sexual Abuse can file a complaint at any time irrespective of his/her present age.
However, this definition is a purely biological one, and does not take into account people who live with intellectual and psycho-social disability.
Under this Act, if any girl under 18 is seeking abortion the service provider is compelled to register a complaint of sexual assault with the police.
In other words, the lawyer representing a child can only assist the Public Prosecutor, and file written final arguments if the judge permits.
[31] In a 2015 analysis of 142 sexual assault cases in sessions courts of Mumbai, police were found misusing the act in 33 cases, by classifying women who were 18 years old as being between 15 and 18 years of age in their FIRs, in order to criminalize consenting relationships at the request of the parents of the girl.
[32] In contrast to the 2011 act, an earlier draft of the bill in 2001 did not punish consensual sex if at least one of the partners were above the age of 16, as did section 375 of the Indian Penal Code.
The change from this to the age of 18 in the final act was criticized at the time as it was feared that this would allow and encourage unjustified complaints aimed at penalizing consensual relationships.