CHENNAI: The Madras High Court directed the State government to file a report by Friday on the status of the departmental inquiry initiated against the police officers, who failed to follow the provisions of the Pocso Act, in the Anna Nagar minor girl sexual assault case.
The court had taken suo motu cognizance of the matter after it was reported that the parents of a 10-year-old girl from Anna Nagar, who went to lodge a complaint about the sexual assault of their daughter, were allegedly assaulted by the All Women Police personnel of Anna Nagar police station.
The mother of the girl had also filed a petition seeking compensation and action against the police officers concerned.
When these cases came up for hearing before a bench comprising Justices P Velmurugan and M Jothiraman, the judges questioned what action had been taken against the officers who erred by not following the Pocso Act procedures.
In response, the government advocate submitted that criminal cases had been registered against the concerned officers.
Expressing dissatisfaction, the judges observed that registering a criminal case was different from initiating departmental action. The government lawyer then explained that departmental proceedings had been initiated against the officers in 2024.
The judges then noted that 15 months had already passed since then and directed the police department to submit a report on the present status of the departmental action against the concerned officers and adjourned the hearing to Friday.