The Delhi High Court Wednesday directed the Delhi government to appoint special public prosecutors in each district court within three months to try cases of sexual crimes against children.
A division bench of Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice Manmohan also asked the Delhi government to file a status report within three weeks, and fixed the next date of hearing as March 19.
A public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal sought direction to the Delhi government to appoint special public prosecutors.
Standing counsel Zubeda Begum, appearing for the Delhi government, told the court that the government had written to the central government on the issue of prosecution in such cases.
"We need delegation of power from the centre to appoint special public prosecutors," she said.
The court, however, said it "cannot every day monitor the government. It is between the central government and you (Delhi government) and we cannot come and interfere every day".
The PIL submitted that section 28 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) "mandates establishment of a court of session to be special court in every district" and section 32 "mandates appointment of special public prosecutors".
Petitioner Bansal said the government had neither constituted special courts nor appointed special public prosecutors. POCSO Act came into force Nov 14 last year, he said.
