Terming the manner of handling sexual harassment and rape related to children as 'frightening' the Supreme Court has ordered the Center and all state governments to play a more active role in these cases. The apex court has asked the Central and State Governments to arrange to complete the trial within a year by conducting a quick investigation into such incidents. The apex court has also ordered the governments to submit an action report on the next hearing on 12 December.
The Supreme Court itself began hearing with cognizance after the 'alarming rise' in the rising incidents against children. The apex court has already ordered the central government to set up special fast track courts in all districts with more than 100 FIRs of the Poxo Act. On November 13, headed by the then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, the Supreme Court Registrar Surinder S. Had taken cognizance of the report prepared by Rathi.
The bench has ordered that all the cases registered under the Poxo Act be disposed of within a year. "The status of action in the report is frightening," the bench said. What to talk about the trial, in 20 percent of the cases, the investigation is not being completed within a year. A bench with the then Chief Justice Gogoi in the presence of Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjeev Khanna said, "The victims were neither given any help nor compensation." Trial has been pending for more than a year in almost two-thirds of cases.
Justice Gogoi, who retired from the post of CJI two days ago on November 17, said that the failure to comply with the deadline given under the Poxo Act is showing lack of dedication and awareness among investigators. He ordered the central government and all state governments to ensure adherence to the deadline given under the POCSO Act in all matters. It also ordered the investigators to be sensitized so that Poxo cases can be investigated by placing them in the 'high priority' category.
