SC directs High Courts across India with string of directions in respect of trails under POCSO Act

New Delhi, May 1: Increasing numbers of child rapes, today Supreme Court directed High Courts across the country to constitute 3-member committees expeditiously to monitor trials under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. 

The Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice D. Y. Chandrachud and Justice A. M. Khanwilkar today issued a string of directions in respect of the trial and disposal of matters under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act of 2012. The Bench also directed the Directors General of Police of each state to form Special Task Forces to investigate POCSO cases.

The Bench was hearing the PIL filed by Alakh Alok Srivastava. drawing the attention of the court to the shocking incident of rape of an eight-month-old girl by her 28-year-old cousin in Shakur Basti of North-West Delhi in January, seeking guidelines to ensure that investigation and trial of cases involving rape of children below the age of 12 years is completed within six months from the date of lodging of the FIR.

In view of the same, the bench has issued the following directions-

• The High Courts shall ensure that the cases registered under the POCSO Act are tried and disposed off by special courts in compliance with the provisions of the Act
• Such “special courts”, as envisaged under the POCSO Act, may be assigned the duty to deal with cases under the Act
• Instructions shall be issued to the “special courts” to fast-track the disposal of matters by not granting any unnecessary adjournments and following the procedure under the Act of 2012
• The High Courts shall constitute a committee of an appropriate number of judges to monitor the progress of trial under the Act.
• The Director General of Police of the states shall constitute a Special Task Force to assist in investigation and the production of witnesses before the trial courts on the due date
• Efforts shall be made by the High Courts to provide child friend courts in accordance with the spirit of the POCSO Act.