Appoint female lawyers to represent survivors in Pocso cases, directs Allahabad HC | Allahabad News – Times of India

Passing the directive, the court observed that though the Legal Services Committee has empanelled counsel to represent such survivors, very few female counsel were appearing for them. (File image)

PRAYAGRAJ: Taking note of the fact that only a few female lawyers were appearing for rape survivors, the Allahabad high court has asked the Legal Services Committee of the high court to appoint female counsel to represent the survivors in Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act cases, especially when they are minor girls.
Passing the directive, Justice Ajay Bhanot observed that though the Legal Services Committee has empanelled counsel to represent such survivors, very few female counsel were appearing for them.
“In such circumstances, the Legal Services Committee of the Allahabad high court is requested to appoint lady counsel to represent the victims especially when the victims are minor girls,” the court added.
The court made these directives and observations while hearing a bail plea of a man booked for allegedly raping a speech-impaired minor dalit girl. The accused applicant was booked under Section 376 (rape) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under the provisions of the POCSO Act as well as the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The accused applicant had been in jail since June 8, 2021 and his bail plea was rejected by the trial court of Janupur district court on April 5, 2022.
While hearing the bail application, the court noted that the survivor was a speech-impaired girl and considering her disability, there was no delay in lodging the first information report (FIR).
While rejecting the bail application of Ashish Yadav , the court observed, “The offence is grave. The likelihood of the applicant having committed the offence is borne out from the records. At this stage, no case for bail is made out.”
After rejecting his bail application, the court in its order dated August 2 also directed the trial court to hear the case on a day-to-day basis and conclude the trial within a year.
The trial court was also directed to submit a fortnightly report on the progress of the case.
“Additionally, the police and administrative authorities of the state are also directed to ensure that coercive measures adopted by the court are given effect in a scrupulous manner to ensure the presence of the witnesses on the appointed date before the trial court,” the court further directed.