This set of queries relates to the Goa Children's Act 2003
https://goagovt.nic.in/documents/goachildact2003.pdf
GCA 2003 32(1) Burden of Proof : Whenever any offence is alleged to have been committed against a child, the burden of proving that such offence has not been committed by the accused shall lie on the accused.
QUESTION A: Is this compatible with the Constitutional right of the Accused to be considered Innocent unless proven Guilty?
GCA 2003 8 (2) ...Whoever commits any Grave Sexual Assault shall be punished with imprisonment of either descripttion for a term that shall not be less than seven years (...) Whoever commits incest shall be punished with imprisonment of either descripttion for a term of one year plus fine of Rs. 1,00,000/-.
QUESTION B: Is Incest NOT a Grave Sexual Assault? So, why this relative leniency for Incest?
re: an accusation and FIR against a priest accused of molesting a young girl, a lawyer is reported as saying the following
" It was settled out of court. I hear compensation was paid to the victim....."
https://targetgoa.com/intd-RTI-is-a-potent-weapon-4
QUESTION C: Is not Sexual Molestation a criminal act? If so, how can it said (that too by a lawyer) as having been "settled out of court"?
Grateful for any input.
