Failure To Report POCSO Offences Not An Exception To Sanction For Prosecuting Public Servants U/S 197 CrPC Or U/S 218 BNSS: Kerala HC
Live Law“ Section 197 of the Cr.PC and Section 218 of the BNSS are intended to operate as a safeguard against public servants from being dragged into vexatious proceedings for having discharged their official duties. In doing so the court observed that Section 197 CrPC/Section 218 BNSS are meant to safeguard the public servants from being dragged into vexatious proceedings while discharging official duty. The Kerala High Court has observed that Section 19 of POCSO Act which mandates reporting of POCSO offence is not carved out as an exception to Section 197 CrPC which pertains to requirement of sanction to prosecute public servants. Section 42A of the POCSO Act has restricted the operation of the non-obstante clause to the subject matters over which the special law shall have an overriding effect on the general law," the court observed. Section 42A of the POCSO Act has restricted the operation of the non-obstante clause to the subject matters over which the special law shall have an overriding effect on the general law.” Based on this, it held Section 19 of the Act is not inconsistent and does not exclude the applicability of Section 197 of the CrPC.