Chandigarh, October 6
Nearly 12 years after she was allegedly raped in front of her minor son, a Ferozepur district resident is still fighting for justice.
Coming to her rescue, Justice Surya Kant of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has not only asked the trial court to fast track the case, but also directed the police to ensure her safety. Directions have also been issued to protect her against alleged pressure from the accused.
The victim had moved the High Court, along with her husband and two sons. Her case, pending before a trial court in Ferozepur, has again brought under the High Court scanner the functioning of the police.
Available information suggests the challan in her case was filed after a decade; and she is still being allegedly threatened to depose in favour of the accused. It is also apparent that the police in this part of the region has learnt little lessons from the Ruchika Girhotra and Sarita cases. Both had ended their lives after the police allegedly failed to take timely action.
Taking up her case, Justice Surya Kant asserted a rape victim, along with her husband and sons, moved the High Court for protection “from being pressurised by the accused to depose in their favour”.
Referring to the assertions made by her counsel, Justice Surya Kant asserted the victim had deposed and had supported her original version in the criminal case. But her son, stated to be an eyewitness, was yet to depose.
“The FIR was registered on May 3, 1998, and the charges have been framed after 10 long years in 2008. In these circumstances, instead of waiting for a reply from the respondents, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with a direction to Ferozepur Senior Superintendent of Police, Zira DSP and SHO of police station Mallanwallan to ensure no harm whatsoever is caused to the life and liberty of the petitioner, nor anyone is able to put any type of pressure on them for a favoured deposition in the pending trial.
“Keeping in view the fact that the occurrence allegedly took place more than 12 years back, the trial court at Ferozepur is directed to expedite the ongoing proceedings and to conclude the trial as early as possible and preferably within six months”. In all, four persons are accused in the case-- - Pritam Singh, Baldev Singh, Gurdev Singh and Kashmiri Singh.
No comments:
Post a Comment