Table of Contents
“Live your life now,” Delhi High Court issues special directive to 10-year-old POCSO victim
The Delhi High Court has issued important instructions to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in the case of a 10-year-old POCSO victim. The court said that the encouraging message written by the trial court judge for the girl should be handed over to her or her family. Along with this, the process of giving compensation amount of Rs 10.50 lakh to the family as decided by the court should also be completed.
This case is related to the POCSO case registered at Budh Vihar police station. The trial court had convicted the accused and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for life. While hearing the appeal, the High Court bench refused to stay the sentence of the convict for the time being.
The matter was heard by a bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Dinesh Bhatt. The High Court has given two weeks’ time to the DLSA Secretary to comply with the directions regarding the message and compensation.
The trial judge wrote a message for the girl at the end of the verdict.
Additional Sessions Judge Rajani Ranga of the trial court wrote a special message addressed to the victim at the end of the verdict. The message encouraged the girl to look to her future, study, spend time with friends and pursue her dreams.
The judge also wrote that the court cannot bring back a past childhood, but the girl’s point of view has been heard and judicial action has been taken on her complaint. The message was intended to reassure the POCSO girl that her voice was taken seriously.
The Delhi High Court has now directed that this message be printed and delivered to the POCSO girl or her family. The court has asked that it be handed over along with the compensation amount.
The case dates back to 2023, when the girl was seven years old.
According to court records, the incident occurred on July 23, 2023. The girl’s age was stated to be seven years at the time. She is now 10 years old.
The trial court convicted the accused of aggravated sexual assault and criminal intimidation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The court had also ordered compensation keeping in mind the circumstances of the case and the long-term impact on the girl.
The POCSO accused has filed an appeal in the High Court against his conviction and sentence. The appeal will continue to be heard and the court will review the case records and available evidence.
The trial court ordered compensation of ₹10.50 lakh to the family.
The trial court ordered compensation of ₹10.50 lakh to the girl’s family. The court had fixed this amount keeping in mind the nature of the crime and its impact on the POCSO girl.
The High Court has also sought a report from DLSA on the status of compensation. Its purpose is to find out whether the assistance amount determined by the court has reached the victim’s family or not.
Now DLSA will have to comply with the court’s directions within the stipulated time. After this, its status report will be placed before the High Court.
The High Court has not yet stayed the sentence of the convict.
The accused has challenged his sentence and conviction in the High Court. During the hearing, the court also considered the available evidence, including forensic evidence.
The High Court refused to suspend the sentence of the convict at this stage. This means that the trial court’s sentence is not stayed at present while the appeal is pending.
The final decision in the POCSO case is still pending. Therefore, the outcome of the accused’s appeal and further hearing in the High Court will be monitored.
The DLSA must comply with the directive within two weeks.
The Delhi High Court has given the DLSA Secretary two weeks to comply with the directives regarding the message and compensation. The court has also sought a report on the status of compensation.
Protection of the identity and privacy of the victim is important in the judicial process involving her. For this reason, the court order also emphasizes on making arrangements to convey the message to the girl or her family.
The next hearing of the case will be on November 4, 2026. At that time, the status report of the DLSA is to be placed before the court.
The next hearing on the appeal will be in January 2027.
The High Court has issued notice in the criminal appeal and directed the investigating officer to serve the notice to the victim. The next hearing of the appeal is listed for January 20, 2027.
At present, the court is faced with two aspects: the accused’s appeal against the conviction and life sentence, and the victim’s compensation and her rights. The High Court will consider the record of the case in further hearing.
The message of the trial judge in this case is also in discussion, because the court has directed to deliver it to the girl instead of leaving it as a part of the decision. Now the next status of the case will be clear from the DLSA report and further judicial hearing.
