62
NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
infringed the penal law has at least the following
stages of the proceedings.
section 20 or who fails to record such offence under
guarantees:
3. States Parties shall seek to promote the
sub-section (2) of section 19 shall be punished with
(i) To be presumed innocent until proven guilty
establishment of laws, procedures, authorities
imprisonment of either description which may
according to law;
and institutions specifically applicable to children
extend to six months or with fine or with both.
(ii) To be informed promptly and directly of the
alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having
2. Any person, being in-charge of any company
charges against him or her, and, if appropriate,
infringed the penal law, and, in particular:
or an institution (by whatever name called) who
through his or her parents or legal guardians, and
(a) The establishment of a minimum age below
fails to report the commission of an offence
to have legal or other appropriate assistance in the
which children shall be presumed not to have the
under sub-section (1) of section 19 in respect of a
preparation and presentation of his or her defence;
capacity to infringe the penal law;
subordinate under his control, shall be punished
(iii) To have the matter determined without delay
(b) Whenever appropriate and desirable, measures
with imprisonment for a term which may extend to
by a competent, independent and impartial
for dealing with such children without resorting
one year and with fine.
authority or judicial body in a fair hearing according
to judicial proceedings, providing that human
3. The revisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply
to law, in the presence of legal or other appropriate
rights and legal safeguards are fully respected. 4.
to a child under this Act.
assistance and, unless it is considered not to be in
A variety of dispositions, such as care, guidance
the best interest of the child, in particular, taking
and supervision orders; counselling; probation;
into account his or her age or situation, his or her
foster care; education and vocational training
parents or legal guardians;
programmes and other alternatives to institutional
(iv) Not to be compelled to give testimony or to
care shall be available to ensure that children
confess guilt; to examine or have examined adverse
are dealt with in a manner appropriate to their
witnesses and to obtain the participation and
well-being and proportionate both to their
examination of witnesses on his or her behalf under
circumstances and the offence.
conditions of equality;
(v) If considered to have infringed the penal law,
to have this decision and any measures imposed
in consequence thereof reviewed by a higher
77
Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child
Prostitution and Child Pornography.
78
Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child
Prostitution and Child Pornography.
competent, independent and impartial authority or
judicial body according to law;
80
Section 28 of POCSO Act,2012: Designation of
Special Courts -
1. For the purposes of providing a speedy trial,
the State Government shall in consultation with
the Chief Justice of the High Court, by notification
in the Official Gazette, designate for each district,
a Court of Session to be a Special Court to try the
offences under the Act:
Provided that if a Court of Session is notified as
a children's court under the Commissions for
Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 or a Special
Court designated for similar purposes under any
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Section 21 of POCSO Act,2012: Punishment for
other law for the time being in force, then, such
(vi) To have the free assistance of an interpreter if
failure to report or record a case.-
the child cannot understand or speak the language
court shall be deemed to be a Special Court under
1.
used;
this section.
of an offence under sub-section (1) of section 19 or
(vii) To have his or her privacy fully respected at all
Any person, who fails to report the commission
2. While trying an offence under this Act, a Special