RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Sept.14: The Jharkhand High Court today directed the state government to deposit Rs 10 lakh in the name of child expected to take birth following rape of a blind girl by an unknown person.
The direction came a day after RIMS said it was not possible to terminate the embryo developed in the womb of the rape victim as it is 28-week old and in a healthy condition.
The high court said the amount will be paid to the child when he or she attains the age of 21.
Advocate of the victim and a PUCL activist Shailesh Poddar informed the development saying while directing to deposit Rs 10 lakh in the name of child yet to take birth the high court also directed the state to take care of the mother and future child.
The high court, advocate Poddar said, also directed the state to give the benefit of handicapped pension scheme to the rape victim and ensure opening a shelter home for destitute women.
Apart from this, Poddar said, the court has directed to furnish the copy of the order to the chief secretary, social welfare department secretary, women and child development secretary besides Ranchi deputy commissioner and Ranchi District Legal Services Authority secretary for information and necessary action in the matter.
The story of the girl, who is a resident of Itki, is pathetic. She was raped first time in 2018 by her own brother. While the trial in the matter is under process, she was raped again and impregnated in the absence of his father, who is a rickshaw puller.
The matter came to the fore when the PUCL took the matter in its hand and filed a petition before the court for justice with the poor girl.
On Tuesday, the Justice Sanjay Dwivedi hearing the matter asked the advocates involved in the case to think about the way out after RIMS did not approve termination of the baby in the womb.
