Punjab and Haryana High Court permits victim to approach lower court

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 18

More than a month after an 18-year-old girl from Chandigarh moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court and alleged rape by a boy from Srinagar and her forcibe conversion, Justice Anita Chaudhary gave her the liberty to approach the court below.

As the case came up for resumed hearing, the petitioner girl present in court stated that she had completed her education till Class 12.

“Let the petitioner place on record copy of Board’s Certificate of Class 12 …” Justice Chaudhary asserted. Directions were also issued for the production of the copy of challan or the final investigation report along with interim orders.

Appearing before the Bench, her counsel RS Dhull stated that the petitioner has been attacked.

“The petitioner may approach the court below,” Justice Chaudhary asserted while fixing the case for September 12

In her plea before the high court, the girl had earlier sought directions for handing over the investigation of the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or Central Bureau of Investigation.

The plea came on the ground that the Chandigarh Police have not investigated the case fairly.

The accused in the rape case is facing trial in a juvenile court in Chandigarh. An FIR in the matter was registered on July 18, last year, at Sector 34 police station for rape under Section 376 (2) of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

On June 4, she had alleged that two men had tried to throw acid on her face.

Her plea came up for hearing initially on May 1 before Justice Anita Chaudhary of the high court, who asked her counsel to place on record the proof of her age.