Woman paraded semi-naked in Punjab's Tarn Taran: HC compares incident to 'chirharan of Draupadi'
Chandigarh, Apr 8: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday took suo-motu notice of an incident in which a woman was allegedly assaulted and paraded semi-naked by her son's in-laws in Tarn Taran and said it reminded of the "chirharan of Draupadi' at the behest of the Kauravas in Mahabharat.
The 55-year-old woman was assaulted and paraded semi-naked in Punjab's Tarn Taran district allegedly by her son's in-laws, after he eloped with a woman and married her against the wishes of her family.
The incident occurred in a village on March 31, a few days after the victim's son eloped with the woman and married her, police had said.
Justice Sanjay Vashisth took suo-motu (on its own) cognisance of the "barbaric and shameful incident" through media reports and decided to treat the matter as public interest litigation.
Justice Vashisth is also the administrative judge of the Tarn Taran sessions division.
The matter was subsequently placed before a division bench of Acting Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji, which issued a notice of motion to the Punjab government.
"I am reminded of the historical event that had taken place during the Mahabharat era, that is, the chirharan of Draupdi at the behest of the Kauravas and the silence of the Pandavas, including Bhishma Pitamah, which ultimately resulted in bloodshed of thousands of people in the Mahabharat war.
"After centuries thereafter, an ordinary common man does not expect even today that the 'nyay pranali' (judicial system) would be a mute spectator to such incidents, happening sinfully and openly under the nose of the administration," Justice Vashisth observed.
"Being the administrative judge of the Tarn Taran sessions division, I am of the considered opinion that cognisance of this incident is required to be taken suo-motu on the judicial side, because the high court cannot be a mute spectator to such incidents, where the respect and modesty of a lady is outraged openly, and despite taking required steps, police and the other authorities concerned show or adopt a lackluster attitude and do not initiate prompt action," the judge said.
Police had said four people were arrested in connection with the incident.
According to the complaint filed by the victim, she was alone at home when her son's in-laws allegedly assaulted her and tore her clothes off.
They paraded her in the village in a semi-naked condition, the victim alleged.
A video purported showing the victim being paraded in the village surfaced on social media on Friday.
Kulwinder Kaur Mani, the mother of the victim's daughter-in-law, her brothers Sharanjit Singh Shanni and Gurcharan Singh, and family friend Sunny Singh have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered on April 3 under Indian Penal Code sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 354D (stalking), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 149 (unlawful assembly).
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Union Min. HDK announces Rs15,000 cr revival plan for Bhadravati Visvesvaraya Iron & Steel Factory
Mandya (Karnataka) Dec 22: Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H D Kumaraswamy, announced on Sunday plans to revive the Sir M Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Factory in Bhadravati with an estimated investment of Rs 15,000 crore.
Speaking at the 87th All India Kannada Literary Conference in Mandya, the Minister stated that this decision aligns with the Modi government's efforts to address unemployment and focus on industrial growth in Karnataka.
The Minister highlighted the historical significance of the Bhadravati factory, established under Mysuru Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar and Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya. Once a source of employment for thousands and a livelihood for lakhs, Kumaraswamy expressed confidence that the glorious days of the steel factory would soon return. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has entrusted me with the critical responsibilities of the Heavy Industries and Steel portfolios. I am working diligently to ensure these responsibilities benefit Karnataka," said Kumaraswamy.
Responding to MLA Dinesh Gooligowda's request to establish an IIT near KRS in Mandya, the Minister assured that the proposal would be examined thoroughly. "I will discuss this matter with the relevant Union Ministers. Karnataka already has one IIT, and I strongly believe we need another. Let us all work together to bring another IIT to our state, and I seek everyone's support for this," he added.
The Minister emphasised his deep connection with Mandya, calling it a land of Kannadigas, and expressed his happiness in participating in the conference. "I am here not just as a Union Minister but as a proud Kannadiga," he said.
Kumaraswamy addressed the concerns raised by the conference's president, Go Ru Channabasappa, about promoting Kannada and implementing bilingual education policies over trilingual ones. He acknowledged the challenges faced by rural parents in balancing the preservation of Kannada with their children's future aspirations in a competitive global environment. "This is a complex issue, and we must collectively find solutions to address the anxieties of parents," he said.
The Minister also expressed his concern over the declining interest in Kannada-medium education due to societal pressures and the competitive mindset of rural parents. Reflecting on his tenure as Chief Minister, he said, "When I served as Chief Minister, I initiated the establishment of 1,000 public schools to equip rural children to compete with their urban counterparts while emphasising Kannada in education."
Sharing his passion for literature, Kumaraswamy said, "I was deeply moved after reading the epic novel 'Durgastamana' by Ta Ra Subba Rao. "It's a masterpiece that vividly narrates the end of Madakari Nayaka, evoking emotions that can move even the most unyielding souls."
He also expressed admiration for the works of Vyasaray Ballal, including novels like 'Channabhairadevi' by Gajanana Sharma, 'Swapna Saraswata' by Gopalakrishna Pai, and 'Swatantryada Ota' by Bolwar Mohammed Kunhi, which have inspired him deeply.
Reflecting on the evolution of Kannada cinema, Kumaraswamy said, "As someone from the Kannada film industry, I have noticed a stark difference between the stories of the past and the present. It saddens me to see some films failing to address societal concerns. We need more films with good values, meaningful stories, and a positive impact on society."
He reminisced about legendary songs like Dr Rajkumar's 'Haalina Holeyo... Jenina Maleyo', which has left a lasting impression on him. He called for films that preserve the essence of relationships, foster peace, and revive the cultural harmony of rural Karnataka. "We need to bring back the days when communities dined together and celebrated unity," he said.
Wishing a long life to conference president Go Ru Channabasappa, Kumaraswamy said, "May he live beyond 100 years, as foretold by astrologers. He is like a father figure to me, and his life continues to inspire us all. Let us hope his wisdom and guidance remain with us for many more years."
The Minister concluded his address with a heartfelt appeal to preserve the Kannada language, culture, and unity, reiterating his commitment to Karnataka's development and welfare.
