Chennai: Madras-HC orders counseling for minor rape victim within 24hrs
What's the story
The Madras HC yesterday directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to provide counseling within 24 hours to an 11-year-old hearing-impaired girl, who was allegedly sexually assaulted by 17 men in Chennai. The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice PT Asha gave the direction when the case was mentioned along with the case of the alleged rape of a Russian tourist.
Information
Banerjee directs counseling through Child Welfare Committee
Noting that the police have registered a case and are investigating it, the Chief Justice directed the DLSA to give counseling to the minor girl through the District Child Welfare Committee within 24 hours.
Irresponsible police
Police didn't contact CWC even after 4-days of FIR: Lawyer
Advocate Padam Narayanan of NGO Change India submitted that according to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, the police should have intimated the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) within 24 hours of the filing of FIR. But, even after four days of filing FIR, CWC and State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights didn't know where the victim is, he alleged.
Need for counseling
No appointments made to CWCs for past 3 years: Lawyer
Narayanan further submitted that there was an urgent need for psychological counseling, medical intervention, and rehabilitation of the victim. He said the police was violating norms by not treating CWC as an entity. Narayanan further brought to the notice of the Chief Justice that no appointments were made to CWCs for all the 32 districts in Tamil Nadu for the past three years.
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Court will look into thrashing of perpetrators by lawyers: Banerjee
When social activist Traffic Ramaswamy made a mention before the bench on the attack on the accused in the minor girl rape case yesterday, by some advocates when they were brought to the court, the Chief Justice said the court will look into it.
Unfortunate cases
Perpetrators beaten up, dragged down the stairwell by lawyers
The 11-year-old girl was allegedly raped multiple times over the past seven months, and 17 of her suspected tormentors were arrested in Chennai, with some beaten up and dragged down the stairwell of a court yesterday by angry lawyers. Six people have been detained by police for allegedly sexually assaulting the 21-year-old Russian woman who is in Tamil Nadu on a tour.