SC issues directions on fast-track trials of child sexual abuse cases

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a slew of measures to monitor and fast-track trials across the country in sexual abuse cases involving children under stringent POCSO Act, including a direction to all High Courts to set up a panel of three judges to look into such cases.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra considered a report produced by lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava and said that 30,884, 16,099 and 10,117 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, were pending at different stages of trial in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh respectively.

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, felt the need of issuing directions to ensure that the mandate of the POCSO Act with regard to speedy probe and trial was complied with in letter and spirit, reports PTI.

"The High Courts may constitute a committee of three Judges to regulate and monitor trials of cases under the POCSO Act," the top court directed.

"The High Courts of all the states would see that the cases registered under the POCSO Act, as prescribed under the Act, are heard and decided by special courts," it said, adding that such courts "may be assigned" to deal with such cases exclusively.

It also asked the High Courts to issue a direction to special court judges not to grant adjournments during the trial of child abuse cases.

The top court also directed the Director General of Police (DGPs) or police officer of same rank of all states and UTs to ensure that probes in POCSO cases were conducted expeditiously and the witnesses produced in the courts for recording of testimonies.

It also asked the High Courts to ensure that the proceedings in such cases were conducted in "child-friendly" atmosphere in the trial courts.

With these directions, the bench disposed of the PIL filed by Srivastava in his personal capacity in a sensational case relating to the brutal rape of an 8-month-old child allegedly by her 28-year-old cousin on January 28 in a locality near Netaji Subhash Place in north-west Delhi.

The bench asked the Centre to ensure that the infant victim, who had to undergo two corrective surgeries after the rape, got proper medical care if the need arose in future too.