Kerala inaugurates its first child-friendly Pocso court

KOCHI: Ernakulam Pocso Court Judge K Vinod Chandran on Friday said that more awareness needs to be created in the face of increasing sexual abuse of children. Although those accused in child abuse cases are being punished, sexual abuse of children is on the rise.

While inaugurating the first child-friendly Pocso Court in the state on the premises of Ernakulam District Sessions Court on Friday he said that the victims of such attacks should be provided with a comfortable environment in which to speak without fear or apprehension, the NIE reported.

The chief guest of the day, Health Minister Veena George said that the child-friendly Pocso Court in Ernakulam will be a model for the country. Victims in Pocso cases will be under pressure during the trial, and seeing the accused will increase their trauma. She said the child-friendly court would help resolve these issues.

Rs 69 lakh was provided by the Women and Child Welfare Department for the renovation of the court. Honey M Varghese Principal District and Sessions Judge presided over the inaugural function. Other dignitaries that attended the function included Additional District and Sessions Judge K Soman, Women and Child Welfare Department director G Priyanka, district government pleader Manoj G Krishnan, Ernakulam Bar Association president Anil S Raj and others.