The High Court has directed the Government to inform itabout sensitization and awareness programmes to be carried out with regard toJ&K Protection of Children from Sexual Violence Act in Jammu and Kashmir.
Division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and JusticeDhiraj Singh Thakur issued the direction after perusing the status report filedby Director Information J&K on October 10, 2019.
The court said the authorities concerned shall act inconjunction with DLSAs and a calendar of the programmes to be undertaken forsensitization and awareness shall be placed before it by May 11.
In 2019, the court had said that Section 44 of the POCSO Actof 2018 casts a duty upon the Government to give wide publicity through media—television, radio and press, at regular intervals to make the general public,children as well as their parents and guardians aware of the provisions of theAct.
With regard to setting up of Vulnerable Witnesses DepositionComplexes in every District Court, the HC said the directions made in thisregard shall be complied with and a further status report regarding creation ofsuch Complexes and their operationalization shall be placed before it by May11.
The direction came after the court perused the status reportfiled by Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, Abdul Rashid Malik asCoordinator for the Kashmir Province.
Meanwhile, the Court sought report from P D Kotwal,Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kathua, who was appointed as aCoordinator for the Jammu Province.