Madurai, Aug. 20 -- The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the State Health Secretary and the Director of Medical Education to issue a comprehensive circular or set of guidelines to all government healthcare institutions outlining the duties and responsibilities of medical professionals appearing as expert witnesses before the court.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court issued the direction while dismissing petitions filed by Nambu Kaleeswaran and Selvaraj, seeking suspension of the 12-year prison sentence imposed by a trial court in 2023 in a POCSO case in Ramanathapuram involving the alleged sexual assault of an eight-year-old boy.

Justice P Pugalendhi pointed out inconsistencies in the evidence given b...