Badlapur sexual assault case: Don't rush to file charge sheet on public outrage, HC directs SIT

The High Court on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction with the state government's statement that a charge sheet will be filed soon in the case of sexual abuse of two minor school girls in Badlapur. Also, the court also directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was formed to investigate the case, not to file a charge sheet in haste and succumb to public outrage.

There is still time to file the charge sheet. Therefore, investigate the case properly, ensure that everything is in order and only then file the chargesheet, a bench of Justice Revathi Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan told the SIT. Taking serious notice of the incident at Badlapur, the court has itself filed a public interest litigation in this matter. On this, during the hearing held on Tuesday, the court gave the above order and also underlined the need to get justice.


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Maintain a case diary

Two accused in the case are still absconding. The bench also questioned the efforts being made by the AST to catch them. At the same time, anger was also expressed over the non-maintenance of the case diary related to the day-to-day investigation of the case. According to the law, the police have to keep a register of every case and mention in it every matter related to the investigation.

The court expressed displeasure that the case diary did not mention anything about the efforts made to nab the fugitive accused. Is this method of keeping a case diary? While doing such angry questioning every aspect of the investigation must be mentioned in the case diary. However, it is not reflected in the case diary filed in this case. Therefore, the court reiterated that we are not satisfied with the case diary.

Extend the scope of security

State Advocate General Birendra Saraf informed the bench that the government has constituted a committee to consider the safety of schoolgirls. However, the court also clarified that the scope of the committee should not be limited to the safety of girls but should also consider the safety of all school children. Atrocities are committed not only on girls but also on boys of this age. Therefore, the court said to widen the scope of the issues before the committee. The court clarified that the committee would include either retired IPS officer Meera Borwankar and retired High Court judge Sadhana Jadhav or Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi.

The need to educate sons and save daughters has risen

A bench of Justices Dere and Chavan also said that the probe into the case would set a precedent for all such incidents in the future. At the same time, it mentioned the need to educate and sensitise children. As part of that, the court clarified that the need for Bete Ko Padhao, Beti Ko Bachao has arisen.