Public urged to promptly report sexual assault case
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 05 2022:
Chief justice High Court of Manipur Sanjay Kumar has said that it is mandatory for all citizens to report any sexual assault on person below 18 years of age to the authority concerned.
Speaking in a one-day state level consultation programme on 'Implementation of POCSO Act 2012' organised by High Court of Manipur at City Convention Centre, here, on Saturday as the chief guest, Sanjay Kumar explained that POCSO Act 2012 was passed to prevent sexual assault or harassment against minors.
There are provisions for additional protection of minors and punishment to perpetrators of such crimes under IPC.
All citizens are required to report any sexual assault or harassment against minor to the authority, he reiterated.
While stating that Act also has provisions for keeping identity of the victims confidential, and conducting child friendly trial, he also cited a ministry report regarding 47,221 POCSO cases pending in the court.
For Manipur, 29 cases were registered and 32 chargesheets submitted in 2017, of which convictions were given in three cases.
In 2018, 43 new cases were registered and 26 chargesheets submitted, of which the court convicted perpetrators in four cases, while in 2019, conviction decrees were passed in five cases out 58 registered and 59 chargesheets submitted.
In 2020, 75 cases were registered and 53 chargesheets were submitted while conviction was given in one case.
This year, 43 new cases have been registered so far.
As of today, 221 cases are pending in nine different courts, he said.
Sexual assault against minor even by relatives and stakeholders concerned is a serious matter.
Change in the character from the normal sexual desire is a mental disorder and such individuals need psychological therapy and medical intervention to address the underlying cause.
Law enforcing agencies need to conduct their investigation in this matter too, he emphasised.
Social Welfare minister Heikham Dingo, who was present at the event, said that the lack of parental care among the younger genera tion is one of the main reasons behind the degrading moral character of the society.
Drug abuse is also another cause for sexual crimes.
As per information available with the social welfare department, 161 POCSO cases were registered from April 2021 to October 2022.This is a serious matter and there is the urgent need to find ways to address this issue, he said.
On the other hand, the state is among the top performing states in fast tracking POCSO cases.
Social welfare department is taking up different initiatives under child protection scheme apart from the works taken up by State Child Protection Society, District Child Protection Unit, Juvenile Justice Board, Child Protection Committee among others, the minister said.
He then stressed the need for organising more awareness programmes on POCSO Act and taking up measures for strict implementation of the Act.
High Court of Manipur justice MV Muralidharan, Justice A Bimol, advocate general Lenin Hijam and Manipur Judicial Academy director Kh Nobin attended the discourse as guests of honour.
Members of Manipur Legal Services Authority, National Legal Services Authority, District Legal Services Authority, officials of social welfare department, and representatives of Juvenile Justice Board, Child Welfare Committee, CSOs and law enforcing agencies were also present at the event, which was organised in commemoration of 10 years of promulgating the POCSO Act.