‘List steps taken on sex offences’
The Bombay high court on Monday directed the state to file a detailed affidavit enlisting the steps it has taken to implement and enforce the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenders Act.
A division bench of Justice P.V. Hardas and Justice A. R. Joshi was hearing a petition filed by the NGO Sakhee stating that Shivajirao Jondhale and his eight associates had sexually assaulted a 16-year-old boy at his farmhouse in Pune. The victim, who is working as a servant under Jondhale, was allegedly forced to have sex with the accused.
“What steps have you (state government) taken for implementing the provisions of the Act so far?,” the bench asked the state.
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 the scheme for compensation of victims. However, the court directed the state to file an affidavit on the same and adjourned the matter to April 29.
On August 18, last year, Jondhale’s son had registered a complaint against him with the Ottur police station in Pune. Allegedly, Jondhale and his associates had sexually molested his 16-year-old servant on several occasions had threatened to harm him if he complained to anyone. They had approached the court seeking an anticipatory bail and also filed affidavits for the same. In their affidavits, they denied the allegations of forcing the minor into having sex and claimed that all the acts, such as pulling his pants down, were acts of fun. The minor has also
allegedly informed the police that all the acts were done in jest.
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