HC lays down guidelines in child sexual abuse cases

New Delhi, Aug 20 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today laid out guidelines to be followed by various executive organs while working in cases involving sexual abuse cases of children.

Hearing a rape case suo motu on the basis of an e-mail, the division bench headed by Justices R S Sodhi and B N Chaturvedi observed, ''the statement of the victim shall be promptly and accurately recorded verbatim.'' Besides, the officer recording the statement should not be in police uniform, the judges directed adding the statement should be recorded either at the victim's residence or any place where the victim could speak fearlessly.

The bench noted that the child victim should not be kept in the police station overnight on any pretext, whatsoever, including the medical examination.

According to the guidelines issued by the court, the officer should ensure an early visit of the investigation team crime site.

This would expedite the case to be preferably completed within 90 days of its registration. The medical examination of the victim must be done at the earliest, not later than 24 hours.

If necessary, the investigation officer might call for a psychiatrist assistance, the judges said.

It may be noted that the court had heard the matter, spurred by an e-mail informing about how a child, subjected to sexual abuse, continued to suffer in neglect and indifference.

UNI