Judges' shortage hits Pocso cases: Hyderabad High Court
The ACJ pointed out that many children who are key witnesses in child abuse cases were afraid to appear before courts.
Hyderabad: Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan of the Hyderabad High Court on Saturday said that junior judicial officers were facing many problems in trying cases under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act (JJ Act) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (Pocso) due to the increasing number of offences and shortage of manpower. The ACJ was delivering the keynote address at a state level interaction organised at the Dr MCR HRD Institute in the city.
Justice Ranganthan expressed concern at the involvement of youngsters in the age group of 16 to 18 years in crimes.
He said that there were no adequate judicial officers in lower courts to hold trials in these cases and officers trying the cases were facing difficulties in getting support from other departments for disposal of cases.
Maintaining that the role of doctors and psychologists were crucial in cases under the JJ Act and Pocso, the ACJ said that shortage of psychologists was also one of the reasons for the delay in disposing of cases. He said determination of the age of the accused in child abuse cases was also one of the key factors.
The ACJ pointed out that many children who are key witnesses in child abuse cases were afraid to appear before courts.
He said keeping in view the fear of children, they have been provided a special room in Nampally court.
DGP Anurag Sharma also admitted that child abuse cases have increased. He said this year so far 464 cases of child abuse were registered and of these 16 were connected to child pornography.
He said that helpline numbers are being printed on the textbooks of children so that they can inform the police on child abuse.
Mr Sharma said that Bharosa Centres were also yielding good results in creating awareness against child abuse.
Sony George, Child Protection Officer of UNICEF felt that there was a need to set up Bharosa Centres across the country and printing of helpline numbers on textbooks was also a good idea.