TABLE OF CONTENTS
HANDBOOK on the LEGAL PROCESSES for the POLICE
in respect of CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN
Description Page
Foreword ix
The Team & Acknowledgments xi
Preface xii
SECTION I 1
INTRODUCTION AND COMMON ASPECTS 1
1. THE CONTEXT 1
2. CONSTITUTIONAL, STATUTORY, AND 3
INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS TO
PROTECT CHILDREN
A. Constitutional Framework 3
B. Statutory Framework 4
C. International Obligations 8
D. Domestic Authorities and Structures Relevant to Children 8
3. CHILD VICTIMS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 13
4. WHO IS THE HANDBOOK MEANT FOR 14
5. HOW TO USE THE HANDBOOK 14
6. USE OF TERMINOLOGY 15
Section 1.1 - Child-friendly process of investigation and care: 16
General norms
1.1.1. CWPO and SJPU 16
1.1.2. Facilitation of Care & Protection 17
1.1.3. Child-Friendly Investigation 24
1.1.4. Territorial Jurisdiction 28
1.1.5. Documentation 29
1.1.6. Forensic 29
Section 1.2 - How to Assess Age of a Child Victim? 30
Section 1.3 - Communication with a Child 34
1.3.1. Suggested Dos and Don'ts 34
1.3.2. How to Ascertain if a Child Witness Understands the 42
Difference between Truth and Lie
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Section 1.4 - Behaviour of a Child Victim of a Sexual Offence 43
Section 1. 5 - Children with different gender identities and sexualities 47
Section 1.6 - General Norms of a Child Friendly Trial 49
Section 1.7 - Convergence and Networking by Police with Multiple 50
Stakeholders
1.7.1. Role of the Police/SJPU vis-à-vis other authorities 51
I.7.2. Areas of intervention of the concerned stakeholders vis-à-vis 54
child victims of offences: -
I.7.3. Specific Duties of Governments and Actors within 56
Criminal Justice System
SECTION II - THE SPECIFICS:DIFFERENT CONTEXTS 56
CHAPTER 1 - Sexual Offences against Children 56
1.1. The Context 56
1.2. Overview of Legal Framework 58
1.2.1. Applicable Laws 58
1.2.2. Offences under the POCSO Act 59
1.2.3. Sexual Offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 65
1.2.4. Sexual Offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled 67
Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (Atrocities Act)
1.2.5. Sexual Offences under the Rights of Persons with 70
Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPD Act)
1.2.6. Sexual Offences under the Information Technology Act, 70
2000 (IT Act)
1.2.7. Sexual Offences under the Indecent Representation of 71
Women Act, 1986
1.2.8. Sexual Offences under the Goa Children's Act, 2003 71
1.3. Processes 72
1.3.1. Procedures to be followed by the police/ Special 72
Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU)
1.4. Procedure for medical examination and emergency 83
medical care
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Description Page
1.5. Facilitation of Recording of Statement under Section 164, 86
Cr.P.C., by the Magistrate
1.6. Procedures of the Special Court 87
1.7. FAQs 90
Chapter 1, Annexure 1: Sexual Offences and Penalties 92
Chapter 1, Annexure 2: Significant Court Rulings 95
CHAPTER 2 - TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN 102
2.1. The Context 102
2.2. Applicable Laws 105
2.2.1. What constitutes trafficking? 105
2.2.2. The Victim of Trafficking 107
2.2.3. The Traffickers / Perpetrators in Trafficking for 107
Commercial Sexual Exploitation
2.2.4. The process of trafficking 108
2.2.5. Indicators of Human Trafficking 109
2.2.6. Trafficking vs. other crimes 109
2.2.7. Definition of "child" in laws relevant to trafficking 110
2.2.8. Trafficked child victim is a "child in need of care and 111
protection"
2.2.9. Offences relevant to trafficking of children 111
2.2.10. Presumptions in Law 112
2.2.11. Relevant authorities 113
2.2.12. Investigating authorities and their powers 113
2.3. Processes for each Stakeholder 114
2.3.1. Role of Special Police Officers 114
2.3.2. Steps and Procedures for Police Officers 115
2.3.3. Investigation from the organized crime perspective 115
2.3.4. Preventing misuse of public place 116
2.3.5. Suspending/cancelling hotel licence 116
2.3.6. Closure and eviction of brothels with and without notice 116
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Description Page
2.3.7. Rescue dos and don'ts 118
2.3.8. Post rescue dos and don'ts 118
2.4. Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) 120
2.5. Arrest Procedures 120
2.6. Role of Police in Prosecution 123
2.7. Role of NGOs in Anti-human trafficking 124
2.8. Prevention of Human Trafficking 125
2.9. Rehabilitation of Trafficked Victims 126
2.10. FAQs 128
Chapter 2, Annexure 1: List of Offences Relevant to 130
Trafficking and Penalties
Chapter 2, Annexure 2: Significant Court Rulings 133
CHAPTER 3 - CHILD LABOUR 137
3.1. Context 137
3.2. Overview of Legal Framework 138
3.2.1. Applicable Laws 138
3.2.2. Definition of Child under laws relevant to Child Labour 138
3.2.3. Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) 139
Act, 1986 [CALPRA]
3.2.4. Offences under the CALPRA 142
3.2.5. Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 143
2015 and Model Rules
3.2.6. The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 144
3.3. Processes 145
3.3.1. Role of Statutory and Non-Statutory Actors 145
3.3.2. Planning rescue of child labourers 149
3.3.3. Production of a child involved in labour before CWC 149
3.4. FAQs 151
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1
Chapter 3, Annexure 2: Excerpt from SOP on Investigation of Crimes of Trafficking for Forced
Labour, UNODC, 2008, pp.15-16
Description Page
Chapter 3, Annexure 1:Penalties for Offences Relevant to 153
Child Labour
4.1. Steps to be taken for rescue procedure1 155
Chapter 3, Annexure 3: Significant Court Rulings 157
CHAPTER 4 - OTHER OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN 160
4.1. Introduction to other kinds of offences 160
4.2. Applicable Laws 161
4.2.1. Begging 161
4.2.2. Cruelty to Children 163
4.2.3. Offences involving liquor, narcotic drugs, tobacco 165
products and psychotropic substances 168
4.2.4. Exploitation of a child employee
4.2.5. Illegal Adoption and other adoption-related offences 168
4.2.6. Sale and Procurement of Children 169
4.2.7. Corporal Punishment 170
4.2.8. Use of child by militant groups or other adults 171
4.2.9. Kidnapping and abduction of a child 173
4.2.10. Offences committed on children with disabilities 176
4.2.11. Disclosure of Identity of the Child 177
4.2.12. Mandatory Reporting 178
4.2.13. False complaint and False information under POCSO Act 179
4.2.14. Abetment of suicide of a child 179
4.2.15. Sale of Obscene Objects to Young Persons 179
4.2.16. Abetment of Offences 179
4.3. Procedure in case of Offences committed against Children 180
4.3.1. Complaint 180
4.4. FAQs 181
Chapter 4, Annexure 1: List of Other Offences and Penalties 183
Chapter 4, Annexure 2: Significant Court Rulings 194
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Description Page
CHAPTER 5 -CYBER OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN 195
5.1. The Context 195
5.2. Legal Framework on cyber offences against children 197
5.2.1. Cyber offences under the Information Technology Act, 2000 197
5.2.2. Cyber offences under the Protection of Children from 199
Sexual Offences Act, 2012
5.2.3. Cyber offences under The Indian Penal Code, 1860 203
5.3. Institutional and Process Framework 205
5.3.1. Functionaries: 205
5.3.2. Protection from Child Pornography (Blocking public 211
access of information)
5.4. FAQs 213
Chapter 5, Annexure 1: Legal Framework of cyber 215
offences against children
Chapter 5, Annexure 2: Significant Court Rulings 218
CHAPTER 6 - PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE 220
6.1. The Context 220
6.2. Legal Framework on prohibition of child marriage 220
6.2.1. Offences under the PCM Act 221
6.2.2. Effect of a Child Marriage 221
6.2.3. Prevention of Child Marriage 223
Chapter 6, Annexure 1 - Table of Offences 226
under the PCM Act
SECTION III - REHABILITATION AND 226
REINTEGRATION OF THE CHILD VICTIM
Chapter 7 - Introduction to Rehabilitation of Children 226
7.1 Legal Framework for Rehabilitation in India 227
7.1.1. Restoration 229
7.1.2. Institutional Care 230
7.1.3. Foster Care 231
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Description Page
7.1.4. Adoption 232
7.1.5. Fit Facility/ Fit Person 234
7.1.6. Sponsorship 235
7.1.7. Aftercare 236
7.1.8. Compensation 237
Chapter 7, Annexure 1: Significant Judicial Rulings 23