POCSO Act Section 24 — Recording of statement of a child

CHAPTER VI PROCEDURES FOR RECORDING STATEMENT OF THE CHILD

Criminal

Summary

Sub-section (1) states that the child's statement must be recorded at the child's residence, or at a place where the child usually lives, or at a place of the child's choice. As far as possible, the statement should be recorded by a woman police officer who is at least a sub-inspector in rank.

Sub-section (2) states that the police officer recording the child's statement must not be in uniform.

Sub-section (3) states that the police officer conducting the investigation must ensure that, while examining the child, the child never comes into contact with the accused in any way.

Sub-section (4) states that a child cannot be detained in a police station at night for any reason.

Sub-section (5) states that the police officer must ensure that the child's identity is protected from the public media, unless the Special Court directs otherwise in the interest of the child.

Official Text

(1) The statement of the child shall be recorded at the residence of the child or at a place where he usually resides or at the place of his choice and as far as practicable by a woman police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector.

(2) The police officer while recording the statement of the child shall not be in uniform.

(3) The police officer making the investigation, shall, while examining the child, ensure that at no point of time the child come in the contact in any way with the accused.

(4) No child shall be detained in the police station in the night for any reason.

(5) The police officer shall ensure that the identity of the child is protected from the public media, unless otherwise directed by the Special Court in the interest of the child.