Hathras case: CJI bench to hear PIL seeking CBI/SIT probe today
The Supreme Court has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file an affidavit on the protection provided to witnesses in the Hathras gangrape case. 2. The apex court also asked if the victim's family has chosen any lawyer.
The court's response came on a PIL seeking a CBI probe or a SIT investigation under a sitting or former Supreme Court or a High Court judge into the brutal gangrape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit girl in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district. The PIL was taken up by a bench, headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian.
The petitioners -- social activist Satyama Dubey and advocates Vishal Thakre and Rudra Pratap Yadav -- have urged the apex court to pass appropriate orders for a fair investigation, either by the CBI or the SIT under a sitting or retired Supreme Court or High Court judge and transfer the case to Delhi due to "failure of Uttar Pradesh authorities" in taking action against the accused.
HIGHLIGHTS:
1:20 pm | UP government will file an affidavit on Thursday on witness protection in Hathras case.
1:15 pm | Supreme Court asks Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Uttar Pradesh government, to inform it how the witnesses in the Hathras case, are being protected. Supreme Court adjourns the matter for next week.
1:10 pm | CJI to Jaising: We are wondering if you even have locus in this criminal case. We are only hearing because of the shocking case. We appreciate your presence but we don't want to be misunderstood. We are saying your clients may not have any locus.
1:07 pm | CJI says this is shocking and we are not denying this. "We are talking about invoking our jurisdiction."
1:05 pm | Maybe you aren't aware but security is provided to the family, SG responds
1:04 pm | Matter should be transferred to Delhi, Indira Jaising says in SC
1.03 pm | Indira Jaising: Providing security to the victim's family is the most important thing right now.
1:02 pm | SG Tushar Mehta (appearing for UP govt): We are not opposing the PIL. We too want a fair probe into the case. A young girl's death should not be sensationalised.
1:00 pm | Hearing begins in Supreme Court
The plea mentions that the victim was first raped and then brutally assaulted when she was in the field to collect fodder for her cattle, and according to a medical report, her tongue was chopped and her neck bone and back bone was also broken by the accused, who belonged to an upper caste. The victim subsequently succumbed to her injuries at Safdarjung hospital in Delhi.
It also states that the police had hurriedly cremated the body, and had maintained that the cremation was being carried out as per the wishes of the family, "which is not true" as police personnel themselves lit fire to the pyre, while even media persons had also been banned as per information received.
The plea also claimed that the police have not performed their duties towards the victim, and were, instead, trying to shield the accused persons. "Because no arrest was made in this matter, the accused persons are moving freely and they have no fear at all...the family of the victim has been victimised by the upper caste persons and no action has been done by the authorities/police officials," the plea stated.
