JUDGMENT

1. Heard Mr. A. D. Bhobe, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr. P. Faldessai, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for respondent Nos. 1 and 2, and Mr. S. Keny learned counsel for respondent No.3.

2. The petitioner, by instituting the present petition seeks to quash the order dtd. 17/2/2021 made by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, at Margao on the application for compounding, jointly filed by the petitioner and the complainant - respondent No.3 in the context of charge-sheet bearing No.69/2020.

3. In this case, the only allegation against the petitioner is that on 13/3/2020, the petitioner, on his WhatsApp group forwarded certain material containing the photograph of a minor victim girl who was raped. In the context of such rape, a case had been registered at Maina Curtorim Police Station. The allegation against the petitioner is that in doing this, he disclosed the identity of the minor victim girl and such disclosure is an offence punishable under Sec. 228-A of IPC punishable under Sec. 23(4) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act).

4. The message allegedly forwarded by the petitioner speaks about police arresting a 23 years person