Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant, acting Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court Justice Sujoy Paul, Justice P. Sam Koshy attended the session. The Chief Minister said that child survivors should be at the heart of India’s legal and moral battle against sexual abuse.
The Chief Minister said that the Pocso Act and Juvenile Justice Act were strong and progressive tools for child protection, but some challenges still persisted in their implementation. He stressed that these laws should be applied in ways that safeguard the victim’s future without causing additional trauma.
Revanth Reddy urged all stakeholders, the judiciary, police, child welfare committees and developmental partners, to move forward with a shared sense of responsibility. He said that justice should not be confined to courtrooms alone but should be felt and experienced.
“We must protect our children from sexual abuse at any cost and through all means available. My government accords top priority to the protection of children and women,” Revanth Reddy said. He highlighted that the Telangana government had set up 29 Bharosa Centres, which provide integrated support including police assistance, legal aid, medical care and counselling in a child-friendly environment.
Telangana, he said, had pioneered child-friendly courts through the Hyderabad-based Bharosa Centre to ensure speedy trial while safeguarding the dignity and psychological well-being of child victims.
Justice Surya Kant, in his keynote address, observed that the child protection system in India remained fragmented and under-resourced. He stressed the need for a systemic transformation that views the child not as a passive witness but as a person requiring sustained care and healing.
He highlighted how repeated questioning of child survivors by different authorities can deeply traumatise them, stating, “With each retelling, her voice grows fainter until it vanishes altogether.”
Justice Kant said that justice for children must begin the moment they feel safe, and not just in the courtroom. “Reintegration must not be an afterthought, but the foundation of our justice system. Protecting child victims is not just a legal responsibility, it is a moral and constitutional obligation.”
The event was also attended by Unicef India representative Cynthia McCaffrey, DGP Dr Jitender, Legal Services Authority officials and members of civil society organisations.