New Delhi, Sept. 24 -- The Delhi High Court has held that proceedings relating to offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cannot be quashed based on a compromise between the child victim or the victim's family and the accused.

Justice Sachin Datta observed while dismissing a petition seeking the quashing of an FIR and the proceedings arising from it based on a settlement stated to have been reached with the victim with the intervention of her family.

The court noted that the case involved allegations of aggravated penetrative sexual assault upon a child by a person allegedly in a position of trust or authority. It observed that such offences are heinous and have a serious impact on society.

The court ...