Patna: Patna High Court has sought a reply from the central and state govts on a PIL seeking strict enforcement of laws prohibiting disclosure of the names and identities of child survivors of sexual offences, including cases registered under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.A division bench comprising Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice Partha Sarthy passed the order on Monday while hearing a PIL filed by advocate Akanksha Krishnamohan Shahi. The court directed the respondents to file their counter affidavit within three weeks and allowed two weeks thereafter for a rejoinder, if any. The matter has been listed for further hearing on Oct 26.The PIL highlights an alleged gap in the handling of FIRs uploaded on public portals in Bihar. According to the petition, in some cases an FIR is initially registered under provisions other than Pocso and uploaded online, but Pocso sections are subsequently added during investigation. The petitioner has alleged that there is no effective mechanism to automatically withdraw or redact such FIRs after they become Pocso cases.Shahi said the petition refers to 18 cases from different districts of Bihar registered between 2024 and 2026. It claims that identifying details, including names, parentage, addresses, contact details and photographs, were accessible through online portals in some cases.Shahi has sought directions for immediate classification of such FIRs as sensitive, their withdrawal or redaction from public access, police guidelines and training, district-level monitoring officers and periodic compliance reports.The PIL relies on Section 23 of Pocso Act, provisions of Juvenile Justice Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, besides Supreme Court directions on protecting survivors’ identities.
