State Required To Release Additional Budget For Infrastructure Of Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centre In POCSO Courts: Gauhati High Court

The Gauhati High Court has said that the Assam government should release an additional budget for the creation of the Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centre (VWDC) required for the POCSO Courts across the state.

While hearing a PIL filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan and Sampurna Behura for the implementation of directions laid down by the Supreme Court in Sampurna Behura v. Union of India & Ors, the division bench of the Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Mitali Thakuria observed:

"We feel that as the VWDC is a new facility being created under the directions of Hon'ble the Supreme Court and for the mandate of the POCSO Act, the State Government is required to release additional budget for this infrastructure."

The court asked the government counsel to seek instructions in this regard.

The Supreme Court in Sampurna Behura had requested the Chief Justice of each High Court to seriously consider establishing child friendly courts and vulnerable witness courts in each district.

Senior Government Advocate, D. Nath earlier put on record a letter dated June 10, 2022 which stated that the Deputy Secretary, Judicial Department, Government of Assam has indicated that the facilities like furniture, books and other paraphernalia as well as the Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centre (VWDC) required for the POCSO Courts can be taken care of from the budget allotted to the District & Sessions Judges of the districts.

Meanwhile, the court directed its Registry to send a letter to the UNICEF's Assam representative so that their input can also be taken in the matter.

“In view to widen the scope of proceedings and to ensure proper and full implementation of the directions given by the Supreme Court in the continuing writ petition being WP(C) No.473/2005 (Sampurna Behura Vs. Union of India & Ors.), we deem fit to involve the UNICEF representative of Assam in this matter,” the court said.

The court further directed the Senior Government Advocate to collect information regarding the status of utilization of funds being provided by the Central Government under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICDS).

The matter is listed again on June 8.

Case Title: Bachpan Bachao Andolan & Sampurna Behura v. The State of Assam & 4 Ors.

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