Hathras gang-rape: 47 woman advocates write to CJI, seek ‘strictest & swiftest possible punishment to accused’

In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of India and his companion Judges of the Collegium, 47 woman advocates have sought constitution of a High Court-monitored investigation and trial to ensure strictest and swiftest possible punishment to the accused in the Hathras gang-rape case, legal news website BarandBench.com has reported.

The letter further prays for immediate inquiry and suspension or any punitive action against all erring police, administrative, and even medical officers, who may have tried to manipulate the facts and evidence in the case.

The advocates also seek setting up of adequate institutional mechanisms and guidelines so that no other victim or their family feel lost when it comes to the law and order situation in our country, and suffer the same fate.

Hoping for urgent intervention by the top court, the letter reads, “We are writing to you out of much anguish and distress over the manner and procedure in which situation has been progressing with respect to the tragedy that struck a 19-year-old Dalit girl from Hathras, UP.”

Highlighting a series of incidents, the letter draws focus on the police response to the situation.

After September 29, 2020, when the victim succumbed to her injuries at Safdarjung Hospital, the actions of the police officials seem unfathomable and raise many questions which intertwine between our rule of law and our nation’s humanity, states the letter.

“Barely had the victim’s family begun to process their loss, when actions of the UP police officials left one and all enraged......., the victim’s body has been cremated by the police officials without the consent of her family,” says the letter.

On a similar note, a petition has been filed before the Supreme Court praying for investigation in the Hathras gang-rape case to be conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) monitored by a sitting or retired Supreme Court or High Court Judge.

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has also written to Chief Justice and other judges of the Supreme Court requesting them to take cognizance of the gruesome gang-rape and murder.