The Bombay High Court recently emphasised the importance of examining minor victims of offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) expeditiously [Atul Gorakhnath Ambale v. State of Maharashtra]..The High Court was hearing a bail application filed by a POCSO Act accused on the ground that there had been no progress in the trial despite an order calling for expeditious completion of the same. The Court was informed that the victim had not been examined since 2019..Considering this submission, Justice Revati Mohite Dere called for a report from the Special POCSO Judge explaining why there has been a delay in the conclusion of trial and why the prosecutrix not been examined till date. The Court directed the High Court Registry to forthwith communicate the order to the Special Judge in order to enable him to submit his report by February 17."In cases where the victims are minor, POCSO Courts should at least complete the examination of the victim/prosecutrix, as expeditiously as possible, lest the victims who are minor forget the incident, due to passage of time, giving advantage to the accused," Justice Dere underscored. .The applicant's first bail plea had been dismissed as withdrawn, after the High Court had shown its disinclination to grant bail. While doing so, the High Court had called for an expeditious trial, noting that the victim was only 11 years old.In the present application, the accused pointed out that there had been no progress in the trial, and that he was HIV positive and required medical assistance.Opposing the plea, the prosecution contended that so far, only one witness had been questioned in the case and the survivor was yet to be examined..[Read order]