(1) A Special Court may take cognizance of any offence, without the accused being committed to it for trial, upon receiving a complaint of facts which constitute such offence, or upon a police report of such facts.
(2) The Special Public Prosecutor, or as the case may be, the counsel appearing for the accused shall, while recording the examination-in-chief, cross-examination or re-examination of the child, communicate the questions to be put to the child to the Special Court which shall in turn put those questions to the child.
(3) The Special Court may, if it considers necessary, permit frequent breaks for the child during the trial.
(4) The Special Court shall create a child-friendly atmosphere by allowing a family member, a guardian, a friend or a relative, in whom the child has trust or confidence, to be present in the court.
(5) The Special Court shall ensure that the child is not called repeatedly to testify in the court.
(6) The Special Court shall not permit aggressive questioning or character assassination of the child and ensure that dignity of the child is maintained at all times during the trial.
(7) The Special Court shall ensure that the identity of the child is not disclosed at any time during the course of investigation or trial:
Provided that for reasons to be recorded in writing, the Special Court may permit such disclosure, if in its opinion such disclosure is in the interest of the child.
Explanation.-For the purposes of this sub-section, the identity of the child shall include the identity of the child's family, school, relatives, neighbourhood or any other information by which the identity of the child may be revealed.
(8) In appropriate cases, the Special Court may, in addition to the punishment, direct payment of such compensation as may be prescribed to the child for any physical or mental trauma caused to him or for immediate rehabilitation of such child.
(9) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a Special Court shall, for the purpose of the trial of any offence under this Act, have all the powers of a Court of Session and shall try such offence as if it were a Court of Session, and as far as may be, in accordance with the procedure specified in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) for trial before a Court of Session.
Section 27 Medical examination of a child
Section 28 Designation of Special Courts
Section 29 Presumption as to certain offences
Section 30 Presumption of culpable mental state
Section 31 Application of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to proceedings before a Special Court
Section 32 Special Public Prosecutors
Section 33 Procedure and powers of Special Court
Section 35 Period for recording of evidence of child and disposal of case
Section 36 Child not to see accused at the time of testifying
Section 37 Trials to be conducted in camera
Section 38 Assistance of an interpreter or expert while recording evidence of child
Section 39 Guidelines for child to take assistance of experts, etc
Section 40 Right of child to take assistance of legal practitioner
Section 41 Provisions of sections 3 to 13 not to apply in certain cases
Section 42 Alternate punishment
Section 43 Public awareness about Act
Section 44 Monitoring of implementation of Act