High Court Seeks Delhi Govt's Fresh Status Report On Progress Of Sexual Assault And POCSO Cases, Facilities In One Stop Centres

The Delhi High Court recently sought a fresh status report from the Delhi Government on the progress of the sexual assault cases registered under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

A division bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Girish Kathpalia said that the response shall also indicate the location as well as the facilities provided in the One Stop Centres (OSC) constituted for providing support to women affected by violence within the family, community and at the workplace.

“….the affidavit will also indicate the location of One Stop Centres (OSC), the facilities provided and manpower deployed in each OSC and the job function to be performed by the personnel deployed at the OSC,” the bench said.

The court was dealing with two petitions, moved by Bachpan Bachao Andolan and Delhi Citizen Forum for Civil Rights, concerning the issue of compensation being paid to the POCSO victims under the Victims Compensation Scheme.

The bench directed the Delhi Government to indicate in the fresh affidavit the number of complaints in sexual assault cases that were converted into FIRs and the number in which chargesheets have been filed.

The affidavit also has to include the number of cases which are undergoing trial and those which are at the stage of oral arguments.

The court said that the information shall be given separately for adults and children.

As the Delhi Government's counsel submitted that counsellors have been appointed in the OSCs, the bench said:

“What is not clear is as to what are the qualifications of these counsellors and whether any psychologists and psychiatrists have been appointed to deal with sexual assault cases. The number of counsellors deployed at each of the OSCs will also be indicated in the affidavit.”

The court clarified that the affidavits will be filed by the person or departments who are in charge and have dealt with each issues and that more than one affidavit may be filed if so required.

The bench appointed Advocate Aparna Bhat as a Local Commissioner in the matter and said that she will visit the OSCs and file a report.

The matter will now be heard on December 14.

Title: BACHPAN BACHAO ANDOLAN v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS and other connected matter

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