Madras HC stresses training for Pocso court officers, says child victims should not relive trauma

The Madras High Court has underscored the need to train judicial officers presiding over special courts for Pocso cases, stating that they should extend a 'motherly hand' to children subjected to sexual assault. Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy made the observation while disposing of a petition filed by an accused challenging a trial court's permission to recall a 10-year-old survivor for recording evidence.

The judge said children cannot be made to relive the trauma they have already suffered. He noted that, sadly, the relevant aspects were not even argued or discussed in the prosecution's application for recalling the child, nor in the order allowing it. 'Thus, it can be seen that we have a long way to go in understanding these children,' he said.

The remarks emphasize the need for greater sensitivity and training in the handling of child sexual assault cases in Tamil Nadu's special Pocso courts.