Section Text
Procedure and committed to it for trial, upon receivinga complaint of facts which constitute such offence, or powers of upon a police report of such facts. Special Court (2) The Special Public Prosecutor, or as the case may be, the counsel appearing for the accused shall, while recordingthe ¢xamination-in-chief, cross-examination or re-examination ofthe child, communicate the questions to be put to the child to the Special Court which shall in turn put those questions to the child.
(3) The Special Court may, if it considers necessary, permit frequent breaks for the child during the trial.
(4) The Special Court shall create a child-friendly atmosphere by allowing a family member, a guardian, a friend or a relative, in whom the child has trust or confidence, to be present in the court.
(5) The Special Court shall ensure that the child is not called repeatedly to testify in the court.
(6) The Special Court shall not permit aggressive questioning or character assassination of the child and ensure that dignity of the child is maintained at all limes during the trial.
(7) The Special Court shall ensure that the identity of the child is not disclosed at any time during the course of investigation or trial:
Provided that for reasons to be recorded in writing, the Special Court may permit such disclosure, if in its opinion such disclosure is in the interest of the child.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the identity of the child shall include the identity of the child's family, school, relatives, neighbourhood or any other information by which the identity of the child may be revealed.
(8) In appropriate cases, the Special Court may, in addition to the punishment, direct payment of such compensation as maybe prescribed to the child for any physical or mental trauma caused tohim or for immediate rehabilitation of such child, (9) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a Special Court shall, for the purpose of the trial of any offence under this Act, have all ihe powers of a Court of Session and shall try such offence as if it were a Court of Session, and as far as may be, in accordance with the 2 of 1974, procedure specifiedin the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for trial before a Courl of Session.