HC asks Maha to list steps taken to enforce Child Act

The Bombay HC directed the Maharashtra government to file an affidavit stating what steps it has taken to implement and enforce the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offenders Act.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Maharashtra government to file an affidavit stating what steps it has taken to implement and enforce the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offenders Act.

A division bench of Justices PV Hardas and AR Joshi sought the affidavit while hearing a PIL filed by an NGO `Sakhee` seeking implementation of the Act and setting up of special courts to hear cases under the Act. "Tell us on affidavit what steps the government has taken for enforcing and implementing the provisions of the Act so far," the court said posting the matter for hearing on April 29. Public prosecutor Revati Dere informed the court that the government has already constituted special courts to hear offences related to children and steps have also been taken regarding victim compensation scheme. Sakhee had approached the High Court seeking CBI or CID probe into the alleged sexual assault of a minor boy by education baron Shivajirao Jondhale. According to the NGO, the Pune police probe was biased towards Jondhale and eight others accused. Jondhale is accused of raping a 16-year-old boy at his farm house in Pune. On August 18, 2012, Jondhale`s son Sagar lodged a case with the Pune police alleging that his father and eight others had held the victim boy captive for several years and were sexually assaulting him. According to Sakhee, all the accused were released on anticipatory bail allegedly in connivance with the police. PTI