Introduction  Sections 29 and 30 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, Act No. 32 of 2012, (hereinafter the PoCSO Act) are ‘reverse onus’ provisions, i.e., a provision wherein the burden of proving the element of a crime is placed on the accused person. This is a departure from the golden rule prescribing the State to prove all the elements of a crime beyond reasonable doubt. According to section 29, when an accused is ‘prosecuted’ for certain offences under the PoCSO Act, it is obligatory for the court to presume that he/she has committed, or abetted or attempted to commit the offence for which he/she is prosecuted. Section 29 reads: “Where a person is prosecuted for committing or abetting or attempting to commit any offence under sections 3, 5, 7 and section 9 of this Act, the Special Court shall presume, that such person has committed or abetted or attempted to commit the offence, as th ....