Kathua case: Bar body hails BCI report in SC

Jammu, April 26

The J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu, on Thursday appreciated the report of the Bar Council of India (BCI) before the Supreme Court, saying “it has vindicated its stand for seeking investigation into the Kathua rape and murder case through the CBI”.

In a press statement issued here, BS Slathia, Bar association chief, said the BCI in its report had projected the true picture of the events that led to the demands, including a CBI probe into the Kathua rape and murder case.

The BCI had constituted a fact-finding committee, headed by the former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, which held detailed interaction with the lawyers of the J&K High Court Bar Association, District Bar Association, Kathua, civil society groups, counsel of the complainant and stakeholders.

The BCI report said the local lawyers’ body had neither obstructed the Crime Branch of the J&K Police from filing the chargesheet in the court nor had the lawyers obstructed advocate Deepika Singh Rajawat, who is representing the victim’s family, from appearing before the High Court there.

The panel, while claiming that the media had “misrepresented” the reports, said the demand of the J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu, and Kathua District Bar Association for a CBI probe in the matter “appears to be justified”. — TNS