More POCSO fast track courts futile unless more judges are appointed: Justice BV Nagarathna

Supreme Court judge Justice BV Nagarathna on Saturday said that setting up of more fast track courts under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) is futile unless it is complemented with appointments of more judges..The Supreme Court judge was referring to the Central government's proposal to set up nearly 400 new fast track POCSO Courts to tackle the pendency of nearly 2.26 lakh cases throughout the country.She cautioned that while the move was welcome, it was futile unless complemented with appointments of more judges, and with training and sensitization of judges, public prosecutors and police personnel."The central government has suggested a remedy to this situation by increasing the number of fast track courts and I think they are about nearly 400 of them to hear and dispose of matters relating to child sexual abuse. While this is certainly a welcome move, I must caution that setting up fast track courts alone would be futile unless such measures are complemented with the appointments of more judges to try offences under the act and by training and sensitisation of judges, public prosecutors, police personnel," she said.Justice Nagarathna was speaking at the inaugural session of the 2-day national consultation on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.Earlier, Union Minister Smriti Irani had said that 300 of 1,000 fast track courts established by the government in country are for POCSO cases. On the significance of prevention of re-traumatisation and of mental health support to children, Justice Nagarathna said,"The role of experts when coupled with a child centric legal process could help a child trek through the emotionally adverse path of recovery, following abuse.".Further, Justice Nagarathna emphasized that it is necessary to administer child friendly justice that is accessible, age appropriate, speedy and adapted to the needs of the child."It is necessary to administer justice that is respectful of the rights of the child including rights to due process, right to participate in and understand the proceeding and right to privacy and dignity of the child," she added..The national consultation is being organised by Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Justice (SCCJC), in association with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).The seventh such event of its kind, the consultation this time round will mark ten years since the POCSO Act was enacted.Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Supreme Court Justice S Ravindra Bhat, Union Women & Child Minister Smriti Irani and UNICEF-India representative Cynthia McCaffery also spoke on the occasion.The consultation will also feature the participation of government and law enforcement officials, the National Council for the Protection of Child Rights, and civil-society members.The inaugural session will be followed by technical sessions covering various facets of the POCSO Act. These will deal with prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration of survivors to child-friendly courts, investigation procedures and capacity-building to sharing of good practices etc.Read what CJI DY Chandrachud said here.Read what Justice S Ravindra Bhat said here.Read what Union Minister Smriti Irani said here.