Supreme Court directs HCs to form 3-member committees to monitor POCSO trials

The Supreme Court today directed High Courts across the country to constitute 3-member committees to monitor trials under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act..The direction was issued by a Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud in a petition by one Alakh Alok Srivastava..The Bench also directed the Directors General of Police of each state to form Special Task Forces to investigate POCSO cases..“Efforts have to be made by High Courts to provide child-friendly courts”, the Bench further directed..The PIL filed by Srivastava had called for stricter punishment for rape of minors. When it came up for hearing last month, the Centre had informed the Court that measures were being taken to address the same..The Centre later signed off on an Ordinance seeking to amend Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Indian Evidence Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the POCSO Act, thereby allowing courts to grant the death penalty in cases involving rape of minors below the age of 12..The Ordinance was passed in the wake of rising sexual crimes against children, particularly when there has been a growing outrage against the brutal case of rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in Kathua which took place earlier this year.