Patna High Court pulls up CBI in Muzaffarpur case
Patna, Aug 23 : The Patna High Court on Thursday expressed unhappiness over the CBI's failure to submit an action taken report (ATR) in the court in connection with the mass rapes at the Muzaffarpur shelter home.
A bench headed by Chief Justice M.R. Shah also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to respond on the sudden transfer of the CBI Superintendent probing the crime, a lawyer said.
The court asked the CBI to submit the ATR at the next hearing on August 27. The report was to be submitted on Wednesday.
Thecourt took serious note of the transfer of CBI officer J.P. Mishra on Tuesday night.
Mishra, who was transferred to Patna barely two months ago, was shunted on Tuesday as the Superintendent in the office of the Deputy Inspector General (Patna Range).
The Patna High Court is monitoring the CBI probe into the case.
Among those arrested and jailed for the multiple rapes is journalist Brajesh Thakur. Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma had to resign after it became known that her husband was in close touch with Thakur.
The Muzaffarpur horror came to light when the Bihar Social Welfare Department filed an FIR based on a social audit of the shelter home conducted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
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Bill to provide precise definition of 'transgender' introduced in LS
New Delhi (PTI): A bill seeking to provide a precise definition of the term "transgender" and provide graded punishments that reflect the gravity of the harm inflicted upon such persons was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill was introduced by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar.
It notes that it is imperative to give a precise definition for proper and definitive identification and protection of transgender persons, to whom the benefits of the present law must reach.
The protection and benefits that are provided under the present law are vast in nature, and therefore, care has to be taken that "such identification cannot be extended based on any acquirable characteristics or personal choice or claimed self-perceived identity of an individual".
The Bill also contains provisions for "designation of an authority" which will have the option to seek "expert advice" if required.
The draft law also seeks to empower transgender persons to make consequential changes in official documents.
