Supreme Court issued directions for effective implementation of POCSO Act

The Supreme Court has given comprehensive directions in order to achieve the  object of POCSO Act.  Keeping in view of the huge pendency of cases under POCSO Act, the directions have been issued. In the State of Madya Pradesh, there are 10117 cases pending and in the State of Uttar Pradesh, there are 30884 case pending under POCSO Act. The Supreme Court observed that “Keeping   in   view   the   protection   of   the   children   and   the statutory scheme conceived under the POCSO Act, it is necessary to issue certain directions so that the legislative intent and the purpose are actually fructified at the ground level and it becomes possible to bridge the gap between the legislation remaining a mere parchment or blueprint of social change and its practice or implementation in true essence and spirit is achieved”

The Directions are ,

“(i) The   High   Courts   shall   ensure   that   the   cases registered under the POCSO Act are tried and disposed of by the Special Courts and the presiding officers of the said courts are sensitized in the matters of child protection and psychological response. 

(ii) The Special Courts, as conceived, be established, if not already done, and be assigned the responsibility to deal with the cases under the POCSO Act.

(iii) The instructions should be issued to the Special Courts   to   fast   track   the   cases   by   not   granting unnecessary   adjournments   and   following   the procedure   laid   down   in   the   POCSO   Act   and  thus complete the trial in a time­bound manner or within a specific time frame under the Act. 

(iv) The   Chief   Justices   of   the   High   Courts   are requested to constitute a Committee of three Judges to regulate and monitor the progress of the trials under the POCSO Act. The High Courts where three Judges are not available the Chief Justices of the said courts shall constitute one Judge Committee.
 

(v)  The Director General of Police or the officer of equivalent rank of the States shall constitute a Special Task Force which shall ensure that the investigation is properly conducted and witnesses are produced on the dates fixed before the trial courts.

(vi) Adequate steps shall be taken by the High Courts to   provide   child   friendly   atmosphere   in   the   Special Courts keeping in view the provisions of the POCSO Act so that the spirit of the Act is observed”

The above Directions have been issued in a Writ Petition filed with two prayers and the first one is to give  treatment to an eight month old female child who had become a victim of a crime committed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012  and the second one is speedy trial and monitoring of the trials under the POCSO Act in a child friendly court regard being had to the letter
and spirit of the provisions contained in the said Act.

Read the Judgment here  POCSO directions