Bengaluru: The Karnataka HC has recently ruled that the bar on calling the minor victim of a sexual offence repeatedly for cross-examination gets diluted once he or she attains 18 years of age. Section 33(5) of the Pocso Act-2012 says the child should not be called for testifying in the court repeatedly. On turning 18 years of age, the victim can be called for further cross-examination under Section 311 of the CrPC, the court has said. In a Pocso case, the court has permitted the petitioner to cross-examine the survivor, who crossed 18 years on April 2 this year. The judge has said the word 'child' is defined under Pocso Act to mean a person below 18 years and once the child attains that age, the rigour under section 33(5) of the Act gets diluted.
Protection to child in Pocso case gets diluted after he/she turns 18: HC
