Statements of Yadadri victims to be recorded

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice S.V. Bhatt hearing the Yadadri child prostitution case taken up as Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition by the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad, told Telangana government and the SIT to record the statements of the all the victims, at a child-friendly Court.

The Chief Justice giving directions to the authorities to complete the recording of the statements of the children staying at present with “Prajwala” an NGO by next hearing date I.e. next Tuesday at the “Bharosa” centre in Hyderabad where the court was told by the NGO’s counsel that a child friendly court is existing. The Chief Justice said that considering the tender age (2 to 15years) of the victims they must be provided with a friendly atmosphere which may not be possible in regular courts.

The Counsel for the NGO also urged the court to allow a “support person” as per the provisions of the POCSO (The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. The division bench agreeing for that suggestion has urged the Telangana government and the Rachakonda police to see that a group of three women lawyers must be picked up who will slowly acclimatize with the children and help them during recording of statements.

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The Chief Justice giving directions to the Nalgonda District Magistrate to allow the recording of the statements of the victims at the Bharosa centre, which will be correlated with the medical reports submitted by the Osmania Hospital where the medical screening of the children has been completed. The court was categorical that no other person other than the support person chosen by the court should be present during the recording of statements under relevant sections of CrPC.

During earlier hearings, the Court also directed the Rachakonda police to place before it reports on the progress of the probe from time to time. A woman police officer an Assistant Commissioner of Police of SHE Team in Rachakonda, is heading the SIT as per the directions of the Court.