Person on coming to know about commission of offence under POCSO Act, held, is obliged to promptly report the same to the specified authorities. Failure to do so must be regarded as a serious offence even though punishment prescribed under S. 21 is not severe. Supreme Court under parens patriae jurisdiction has duty to give directions for compliance with provisions of the POCSO Act. Held, As noted above, the FIR carries suspicion of commission of sexual assault and the charge-sheet reveals prima facie against the respondent in relation to non-reporting of such an offence under the POCSO Act. The very case of the Appellant is that some among the seventeen victims have given statements under Section 161, Cr.P.C. and some others under Section164 Cr.P.C., specifically stating that the respondent was informed of the sexual assault on them. When that be the position, we have no doubt that the High Court should not have embarked upon an enquiry, especially by looking into the statements of the victims recorded as also their teacher to form an opinion regarding the availability of evidence to connect the Respondent with the crime. The impugned judgment of the High Court is set aside
[State of Maharashtra v. Maroti, (2023) 4 SCC 298]