Parents of child who is victim of sexual offence cannot enter into compromise with accused: HC
PTI, May 24, 2022, 2:31 PM IST
Parents of a child who is a victim of a sexual offense cannot enter into a ”compromise” with the accused, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held.
Parents cannot be allowed to compromise a child’s dignity by an agreement, the bench of Justice Pankaj Jain said on May 11 while hearing a petition seeking the quashing of an FIR registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The FIR was lodged at the women’s police station Dabwali in Haryana’s Sirsa in 2019 under sections 452 (house-trespass) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and relevant sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities Act) and the POCSO Act.
The court said an FIR registered for offenses punishable under the POCSO Act cannot be quashed based on a compromise.
”The compromise affected by the child and/or her parents, compromising the dignity of the child, cannot be raised to a status where it defeats the very object of the Act.
”Power granted under section 482 CrPC (powers of the high court to quash an FIR) cannot be exercised to defeat the purpose of an enactment enacted in the discharge of constitutional mandate as well as an obligation arising out of international conventions,” it said.
The court also directed the trial court concerned to expedite the trial and conclude the same preferably within six months.
”Any agreement/compromise executed by the child (till the age of majority) himself/herself as in the present case will be void ab initio and thus cannot be accorded validity,” it said.
”Parents cannot be allowed to compromise the dignity of a child by an agreement,” Justice Jain asserted.
”Statement of objects and reasons of the Act recognizes the duty cast upon the State to direct its policy towards securing that the tender of age of children are not abused and their childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and they are given facilities to develop in a healthy manner and conditions of freedom and dignity as directed by Article 39,” the court observed.
The statement further declares the enforcement of the right of all children to security, safety, and protection from sexual abuse and exploitation as an object of the Act, it said.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
UP women’s body proposes men shouldn’t tailor women’s clothes or cut their hair
After Yogi’s ‘batenge, katenge’ slogan, PM pitches for unity with ‘Ek hai, toh safe hai’ message
Bank fraud: ED seizes jewellery, cash worth over Rs 1 cr in raids against Bhopal-based company, directors
No greater feeling than serving those in need: Outgoing CJI D Y Chandrachud
CJI Chandrachud: A legacy of landmark verdicts that shaped society and some controversy too
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
BCCI vs PCB spar on CT venue as Naqvi denies receiving any official note from Indian board
Use Carnatic music to promote Kannada language: Nirmala Sitharaman
Udupi: Car collides with bike; Rider injured
UP women’s body proposes men shouldn’t tailor women’s clothes or cut their hair
NSE, BSE to be closed on Nov 20 for Maharashtra assembly polls
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.