HC seeks status of Vulnerable Witnesses Deposition Complexes from admin
Srinagar, Mar 03: To prevent child sex abuse, the J&K High Court Tuesday directed the local administration to file a status report regarding creation of Vulnerable Witnesses Deposition Complexes and their operation before the court.
The court was hearing a public interest petition initiated on its own motion to prevent child sex abuse in J&K.
Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur directed for filing a status report regarding creation of Vulnerable Witnesses Deposition complexes and their operation before the next date of hearing.
A status report was filed by the Director, Information and Public Relations, J&K, informing that by a communication dated 2nd of August, 2019, its Deputy Director (Central), has been designated as the State Nodal Officer in all districts of J&K.
The Field Publicity Officers have been asked to execute the awareness programmes about the J&K Protection of Children from Sexual Violence Act, 2018 across the union territory as per the calendar, said the report.
The court directed that the authorities shall act in conjunction with the District Legal Services Authority.
“A calendar of the programmes which shall be undertaken for sensitization and awareness shall be placed before this court before the next date of hearing,” it directed.
The court took cognizance of the report by Abdul Rashid Malik, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, who was appointed as Co-coordinator for the Kashmir province, in terms of the directions made on 27th December, 2019 with regard to setting up of Vulnerable Witnesses Deposition Complexes in every District court.
The directions made in this regard shall be complied with and a further status report regarding creation of Vulnerable Witnesses Deposition Complexes and their operationalization shall be placed before this Court before the next date of hearing, directed Justice Thakur.
A report in this regard is awaited from P D Kotwal, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kathua , who has been appointed as a Co-ordinator for the Jammu province, observed the court.
The matter was listed again for 11th of May, 2020.
