Now, Garden City boasts of child-friendly courts

The child-friendly courts in the city have already started making the courtroom experience a little less intimidating for children.

Hearing of cases has begun at the two specially-designed courts, one for Bengaluru Urban and the other for Bengaluru Rural, located on the fifth floor of the City Civil Court Complex on K G Road. 

The courts, where Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act cases will be heard have, been set up by the Juvenile Justice Committee of the High Court of Karnataka and the Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD). The DWCD provided Rs 32 lakh under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme for the same.

All efforts have been made to create a stress-free environment for the child. The parents and child have a separate, private lift which will take them from the ground floor to the exclusive area of the child court on the fifth floor. Only the child, parents and judges are allowed in the closed off area.

From here, children enter the waiting room, where walls painted in bright hues of blue, green and pink welcome them. Colourful toys, story books, colouring materials and board games are provided to help them feel relaxed. There is also a video conference facility so that the child can interact with the judge in the comfort of the waiting room. A pantry next to this room has facilities such as a refrigerator, an induction stove, a microwave oven and a bathroom.

From the common waiting room and pantry, the child can enter the Urban or Rural court through a private corridor and entrance.

Inside the court hall, a separate glass-box with one-way mirror has been created at the back. The accused will enter the hall through a separate entrance and sit in this box. He or she can view the proceedings from this chamber without being seen by those outside.

Earlier, there were no separate entrances for the accused and the victim. The accused would be present in the court in full view of the child.

The high court hopes to set up such facilities in other districts too.