NCPCR to look into HC order contradicting POCSO Act
Media workshop on child rights & reporting ethics held in city
Shillong, Mar 29: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said on Tuesday it would look into the recent Meghalaya High Court order that was conflicting the POCSO Act.
In a recent order, the high court observed that though the girl was under-aged, she had consent to have a relationship with the man and have a child with him. However, as per law, the age of consent is 18 years in the country. In this context, the HC order is in conflict with relevant laws of child protection and rights.
The court allowed a petition that was filed praying to quash criminal proceedings that were pending in Special Court (POCSO Act).
During a regional orientation workshop of for media persons in the North East, Paresh Shah, senior technical expert at NCPCR, said the commission would look into this matter and take up the issue.
When pointed out by some reporters, Shah assured that this issue would be taken up.
Besides, the workshop also focused on the media ethics and the dos and don’ts when reporting a POCSO case. Several questions were raised by journalists from northeastern states about the thin red line between facts and societal ethics governed by laws.
Iamonlang Syiem, the chairperson of the state child rights commission, along with Shah clarified many of the points but the grey areas remained as to how much and what to reveal while reporting a minor’s abuse case.
