POCSO Conviction Set Aside Due to Trial Court’s Error in Closing Evidence After Accused’s Counsel Refused to Appear: Rajasthan High Court

In a significant ruling, the Rajasthan High Court has set aside the conviction of an appellant convicted by the Special POCSO Court, highlighting the failure of the trial court to appoint an Amicus Curiae when the appellant's counsel refused to appear. The division bench, comprising Justice Pankaj Bhandari and Justice Shubha Mehta, emphasized that the trial court was duty-bound to ensure proper legal representation for the accused. Case Background The…