Guardians of Pocso victims must be added as parties in bail pleas: Court

‘Victim shouldn't be directly involved; notice should be served instead to parents or complainant’

- JEGADEESWARI PANDIAN Madurai

THE Madurai bench of the Madras High Court recently clarified that it is necessary to add parents or guardians of victims as a party in regular bail applications or petitions seeking suspension of sentence filed by the accused or convicts in cases involving the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012.

"But the victim should not be directly involved or served notice in any proceedings. Instead, notice should be served to the victim's parents or complainant," Justice K Murali Shankar said. When involving the victim's family or the de facto complainant, their identity and details should be protected, and only necessary information should be disclosed without revealing their identity, he added.