By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

A special circular has been issued by the Judicial Service Commission to all the High Court Judges to streamline and expedite child abuse trials in High Courts.

The Judicial Service Commission, after considering a request from the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), has decided to introduce a separate coding to make it easier and more accurate to identify child abuse cases pending in the High Courts.

The NCPA requested the Commission to fix all child abuse HC trials on one stipulated day of the week, then the NCPA officials also can provide assistance to such child victims, offenders and witnesses effectively.
Also, they requested to give priority to child abuse trials and to paste a yellow sticker on the cover of the case file to easily identify the child abuse files by the court officials.

Accordingly, Secretary to the Judicial Service Commission Sanjeewa Somaratne issued the circular to all HC Judges with the amendment in order to prepare case rolls so that child abuse cases are called on a specific date and also to facilitate the prioritisation of such child abuse cases.

The Commission has informed the HC Judges to take necessary steps to expedite the implementation of this proposed coding.

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Also, they requested to give priority to child abuse trials and to paste a yellow sticker on the cover of the case file to easily identify the child abuse files by the court officials