In Brief
This Supreme Court judgment addresses the critical role of support persons under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, in assisting child victims of sexual abuse. The Court recognized that while the POCSO Rules, 2020 establish a comprehensive framework for appointing support persons—professionals who provide emotional, psychological, and practical assistance—implementation remains severely inadequate, with support persons appointed in only 4% of POCSO cases. The Court issued binding directions to the State of Uttar Pradesh to establish guidelines, training programs, and Standard Operating Procedures for appointing, accrediting, and adequately remunerating support persons. The Court held that true justice extends beyond punishing offenders to restoring victims' dignity, security, and psychological well-being through state-supported care.
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