The Rajasthan High Court has directed police, prosecutors and legal-services authorities to ensure proper notice to POCSO victims’ families when bail applications are filed.
Justice Sandeep Shah issued the September 16 order after a service notice bore an unexplained signature without the recipient’s particulars or receipt date and time.
The court reiterated its earlier directions requiring written information, a documented acknowledgment and prompt transmission of the service report to the prosecutor. The process must preserve the child’s anonymity and enable access to legal assistance.
The bench said deficient service was repeatedly delaying bail hearings, affecting both the victim’s participation and the accused’s liberty.
It directed the Director General of Police, the State’s law department and Rajasthan’s legal-services authority to issue compliance guidelines statewide.
In the pending applications, the prosecutor was directed to secure appropriate notice, including fresh service in the matter with the defective acknowledgment. The cases were listed after a week; this order did not decide whether bail should be granted.