The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a directive to High Courts across the country with regard to trials in sexual assault cases involving children, PTI reported. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra ordered such cases to be fast-tracked and decided by special courts.
The top court was hearing a petition filed by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava. The lawyer had moved the court after reports that a man had allegedly raped his eight-month-old cousin in New Delhi.
The Supreme Court directed High Courts to order trial courts to avoid unnecessary adjournments while hearing cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. It also asked the High Courts to form a committee of three judges to monitor and regulate such trials.
On April 21, the Union Cabinet had approved an ordinance to provide strict punishment, including the death penalty, for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12. The ordinance followed protests against cases of rapes and sexual assault across the country.
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