The State government told the Bombay High Court on Tuesday that it has prepared draft guidelines for child-friendly courts in the State.
A Division Bench of Justice Naresh Patil and Justice Girish Kulkarni was hearing a suo motu public interest litigation after the Supreme Court passed certain directions to all high courts to establish child-friendly courts.
Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni told the court that draft guidelines are ready but need to be discussed with the officers concerned. He said the guidelines entail having a glass between the accused and the child where only the accused can see the victim. By taking this step, there will not be any pressure on the child to depose. He also said that there is a proposal to not have uniforms for judges, lawyers or police officials in court so that the child feels comfortable.
The court asked if technology can be used so that the child need not even come to court for the trial. Advocate Deepa Chavan, the amicus curie in the case, said that she went through the UN convention on the rights of children and it mentioned that a conducive environment must be created for the victim to express freely and this was also the backbone of the Juvenile Justice Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
She said that the intention of the Acts was to ensure children are not subjected to the rigours of the system. She said videoconferencing could be used for children to depose. Ms. Chavan said she visited courts for children in the city and now wants to visit New Delhi. The matter is adjourned for four weeks. In the last hearing the court had said, “We can work on creating an atmosphere conducive for minor victims.”
