Hathras case: Allahabad HC expresses concern over no action against DM Pravin Kumar
Lucknow: The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on Monday reserved its order in the Hathras case while expressing concern over the Uttar Pradesh government not taking any action against District Magistrate Pravin Kumar for fairness of the probe.
The state government, however, assured the court of a decision in this regard by November 25, the next date of hearing in the case.
A bench of Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Rajan Roy was hearing a PIL which the court had earlier registered suo moto in the case.
The bench also directed the CBI, which is probing the case, to lay before it the status of investigation in the matter on the next date of hearing.
A 19-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly raped by four upper-caste men in Hathras on September 14. She died on September 29 at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital during treatment.
District Magistrate (DM) Pravin Kumar came under attack after the cremation of the victim in the dead of the night near her home on September 30, with her family members alleging that they were not allowed to bring the body home one last time.
During the in-camera proceedings, the bench asked the state government as to what decision was taken regarding Kumar's action in the case.
At this, the government defended the DM, saying he did not do any wrong.
The SP too was suspended owing to lack of proper handling of the probe in the alleged gang-rape case and not in the (cremation issue), the government counsel said.
The bench noted that it had asked the state if it was right to retain Kumar in Hathras for maintaining impartiality and transparency, adding that the state had assured the court to do the needful in the matter.
Earlier, the state government, Kumar, and suspended SP Vikrant Veer filed affidavits in the court.
Additional Advocate General V K Sahi told the bench that the state government's affidavit contained a draft of the guidelines to be followed in Hathras-like situations as far as cremations were concerned.
In their affidavits, the DM and the suspended SP stated that the decision to cremate the victim at the night was taken keeping in mind the situation in a bonafide manner and that kerosene was not used in the cremation.
ADG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar, Home Secretary Tarun Gaba, and Vikrant Veer were also present in the court.
The court was also apprised that the compensation amount was transferred to the bank account of the victim's father. It was informed that the family was given security by CRPF.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Siddhartha Luthara, who appeared for the accused, requested the court not to make any observation in its orders that may affect the investigation.
Meanwhile, the victim's lawyer Seema Kushwaha reiterated her demand to transfer the trial in the case out of Uttar Pradesh.
Central government's Assistant Solicitor General S P Raju and amicus curiae J N Mathur addressed the bench.
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Remarks against St Francis Xavier: Right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar gets bail
Panaji (PTI): A court in Goa on Saturday granted bail to right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar, who was arrested after he allegedly made derogatory comments against St Francis Xavier.
Judicial Magistrate First Class, Vasco, granted regular bail to Khattar, currently admitted to Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim for treatment of chest pain after he was shifted from the District Hospital in Mapusa two days back.
A row erupted after a video of remarks by Khattar, the founder of Sanatan Mahasangh, at an event on April 18 in the presence of Swami Brahmeshanand, State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and BJP MLAs Sankulp Amonkar and Daji (Krishna) Salkar, went viral.
St Francis Xavier is revered as the patron saint of Goa.
The controversial remarks led to the Vasco Police registering an FIR against Khattar on charges of hurting religious sentiments and creating enmity between groups.
He was detained in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, by local police. His custody was later handed over to the Goa Crime Branch, according to officials.
