Introduction 

• The protection of children from sexual exploitation and abuse is a critical societal responsibility.  
• These guidelines outline the comprehensive legal framework for reporting, handling, and addressing potential offences against children, emphasizing the collective duty of individuals, institutions, and media to safeguard child welfare. 
• Chapter VI of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) states the procedure for Recording statement of the Child under Sections 24 to 27. 

Statutory Provisions for Recording Statement of the Child 

Section 24: Recording of Child's Statement 

Location of Statement Recording: 

• Statements shall be recorded at:  
  • Child's residence 
  • Place where child usually resides 
  • Location of child's choice 

Police Officer Qualifications: 

• Must be a woman police officer 
• Minimum rank of sub-inspector 
• Shall not wear police uniform during statement recording 

Interaction Restrictions: 

• Absolute prohibition of child's contact with the accused 
• No detention of child in police station during night hours 

Identity Protection: 

• Child's identity must be protected from public media 
• Exceptions only by Special Court order in child's interest 

Section 25: Recording of statement of a child by Magistrate 

Statement Recording Procedure: 

• Magistrate must record statement exactly as spoken by child 
• First proviso of Section 164 CrPC regarding accused advocate's presence stands modified 

Documentation Rights: 

• Mandatory provision of document copies under Section 207 CrPC 
• Copies to be provided to child, parents, or representative upon police final report 

Section 26: Additional provisions regarding statement to be recorded 

Presence during Statement 

• Statement must be recorded in presence of:  
  • Child's parents 
  • Trusted person of child's choice 

Supportive Assistance 

• Translator/interpreter allowance: 
  • Prescribed qualifications 
  • Regulated fee structure 
  • Used when language barriers exist 

Special Needs Accommodation 

• For children with mental/physical disabilities:  
  • Special educator assistance 
  • Communication expert involvement 
  • Specialized recording techniques 

Electronic Documentation 

• Mandatory audio-video recording of statement 
• Wherever technologically feasible 

Section 27: Medical Examination Protocols 

Examination Triggers: 

• Applicable regardless of FIR or complaint registration 
• Based on Section 164A of CrPC 

Medical Examiner Specifications: 

• Girl child examination by woman doctor 
• Mandatory 

Examination Presence: 

• Parent or trusted person must be present 
• Alternative: Woman nominated by medical institution head

Conclusion

These guidelines represent a comprehensive legal mechanism to protect children from sexual exploitation. They establish clear reporting protocols, protection measures, and accountability standards for individuals, institutions, and media. The primary objective is to create a robust, child-centric framework that prioritizes the safety, privacy, and well-being of children.