CHENNAI: Madras high court on Thursday censured the Tamil Nadu govt for its careless attitude in acting against the police officials who were charged with violating provisions of the Pocso Act while handling an Anna Nagar sexual assault case in 2024. The survivor of the assault was a 10-year-old girl.Citing the violations, which included disclosure of the victim’s identity, a division bench of Justice P Velmurugan and Justice M Jothiraman observed that such an act on the part of the police amounted to ‘the fence grazing the crop’.
The bench then directed the state to file a status report on the departmental action taken against the police officers and adjourned the hearing to Friday.The court passed the interim order on a habeas corpus plea moved by the victim’s mother, seeking directions including enhanced compensation and action against the woman police inspector who committed violations by recording the victim’s statement without the presence of her parents and thrashing the parents when they visited the police station to file a complaint.Representing the state, additional advocate general J Ravindran informed the bench that Rs 4 lakh compensation was paid to the girl as per the directions of a division bench of the court, and a further decision on this matter must be taken by the trial court.As to the action taken against the erring police, the AAG submitted that the officer was placed under suspension, and a criminal case was registered for violation of the procedures.Refusing to accept the contention, the bench observed that suspension was not a punishment, but departmental action should be taken against officials for not following the statutory provisions of the Pocso Act.
