Shreya Bhandary, TNN | Apr 9, 2013, 06.11AM IST

MUMBAI: Shoddy investigations and the police's lack of awareness about a new law have delayed justice in the Kurla molestation case, said the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) on Monday. After taking suo motu cognizance of a case wherein parents of a six-year-old student alleged that their son was sodomized by two persons while he was on his way to school from a creche, the commission demanded appropriate and strict action by the police and the child's school.

"The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (PCSOA) was introduced to leave no ambiguity in matters where children have been victims of sexual abuse. Why hasn't the police applied appropriate sections of the new law in this matter properly?" asked A N Tripathi, secretary, MSCPCR.

The commission shot down the observations made by the police that a medical reported said there was no 'sexual intercourse'. "What about sexual assault and unnatural sex? The new law clearly defines all these acts; had the police applied the right law, they would have investigated in the right direction and the culprit could have been caught by now," said Tripathi.

Apart from the child's parents and the investigating officer of the case, the commission had summoned the school's principal. The parents said in their statement that they had informed their son's class teacher about a change in his behaviour and about other problems in December last year and also January 2013. The commission questioned the school for not taking responsibility in the matter.

The police and the school have been asked to file replies (affidavits) within four days.

The commission also heard the case of a three-year-old girl who was raped by a neighbour on Holi. Once again, the commission reprimanded the police for not applying the right sections of the newly introduced law.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Child-rights-panel-blasts-cops-and-school-over-sodomy-case/articleshow/19452980.cms?referral=PM