The Supreme Court recently directed all States and Union Territories to take steps to deploy Para Legal Volunteers at police stations and to appoint support persons under Section 39 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

A bench of Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice K.V. Viswanathan passed the order in a petition filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan raising issues related to protection provided to victims under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO).

Appointment of Para Legal Volunteers

The petitioner submitted that several States and Union Territories had taken a casual approach towards appointing Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) at each police station and towards ensuring funds for their expenses. It further contended that Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Manipur and

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