POCSO- “Right Of Minor Victims To Participate In The Judicial Process”- Bombay High Court Issues Guidelines

The Bombay High Court issued guidelines for the effective implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) and To ensure the right of a child victim to participate in the in the Judicial process is protected. A Bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni, among other instructions, directed the Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) to give the court reasons in writing if the victim’s family, guardian or legal counsel could not be put to notice regarding the court’s proceedings. When an application is made on behalf of the prosecution, it would be the duty of the office of the public prosecutor to issue a notice of hearing of such application to the child’s family or as the case may be, the guardian, and where a legal counsel on behalf of the child is already on record, to such legal counsel, along with all relevant documents and the record necessary for effective participation in the proceedings.