Punjab and Haryana High Court for proper treatment of ‘gangrape victims’

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 24

Acting on a petition alleging custodial gangrape of two girls arrested in a murder case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that constitution of a medical board will not be appropriate.

Medical examination of the victims was conducted multiple times, but “total silence was maintained by them, at every opportune time, to disclose about the occurrence so caused”.

At the same time, Justice Archana Puri asserted that it was utmost necessary that both girls were given appropriate medical treatment while they were in judicial custody at the central jail and observation home in Karnal.

Justice Puri directed the central jail superintendent and observation home in charge to take appropriate steps for extending medical treatment to both girls at PGI in Chandigarh. They were directed to ensure and take appropriate steps to protect their life.

Justice Puri added that the jail authorities were required to facilitate meeting of the victims with relatives in accordance with rules and instructions issued during the pandemic.

“As such, the superintendent, central jail, Karnal, and in charge, observation home, Karnal, are hereby directed to ensure and facilitate regular meetings of the petitioner and family of both prosecutrix in accordance with rules and the latest instructions issued by Haryana.

The matter was brought to the High Court after the mother of one of the “victims” filed a petition, seeking direction to the authorities concerned to get her daughter and niece medically treated and examined as they had been gangraped by police officials subsequent to their arrest.

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