Lagatar24 Desk
Patna, Feb 7: Patna High Court heard arguments over the case of Gai Ghat Women’s Remand Home on Monday. A bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S Kumar reprimanded the state government over its inaction.
According to Meenu Kumari, counsel for the case and legal advisor of Mahila Vikas Manch, in the hearing held on Monday, the High Court sought a response from the state government and questioned what action, if any, has been taken by the government in the matter.
Advocate General Lalit Kishor, representing the government, said that no action has been taken regarding the claims by the victim yet. ‘Once we hear the words of the victim, then we will take action,’ Kishor said. On this the High Court reprimanded the attitude of the state and asked why no action has been taken in the matter till now.
Advocate Kumari said, ‘The High Court has issued a new date for the hearing today. The case will be further heard on February 11. The victim will also be present during the online court proceedings then. She will tell the court her story and any action in this matter will be taken after the orders of the court. This is because the state government has yet to take any action over the matter other than thinking and talking about it. In this case, the statement of the victim has been given to the CJM. The Social Welfare Department has also taken the statement and is pursuing their enquiry in the matter.
Kumari claimed that it seems the government is not interested in justice but is trying to save someone close to them. Further actions that will be taken will be decided upon after the hearing on February 11.
Regarding the claims made by former IPS Amitabh Das, advocate Meenu Kumari said that if he has any information, then he can assist the court and that he should file an intervention petition for this. So far, the court is running completely on the basis of records provided. Kumari said she will file an intervention petition for Mahila Vikas Manch on Monday. In this petition, she said all problems, complaints and other issues in the remand home have been mentioned.
Through the second intervention petition, we have placed a demand for a social audit in front of the court. This audit should be done through an SIT or any other social independent agency. In this, a demand has been made to conduct an investigation by forming a SIT under the supervision of the High Court and should include lawyers, members of the Mahila Vikas Manch among others. This is to ensure that a fair investigation of the activities in the remand home takes place. Some girls from Bangladesh and Darbhanga have been mentioned in this petition, but where they are for the moment exactly is not known, hence a physical verification is needed.
