Hathras gangrape case: SC to pronounce verdict on pleas seeking judge-monitored probe, transfer of trial
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India will be releasing its verdict on a plea demanding the setting up of an SIT comprising sitting and retired judges of the SC to probe the Hathras gangrape case.
FollowNew Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday (October 27) will release order on a plea seeking direction for setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising sitting and retired judges of the Supreme Court to probe UP's Hathras incident. The apex court will also decide if the case will be transferred from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde and comprising Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, will pronounce the order. As per updates, the order is expected to be announced by 12 pm.
In the earlier hearing on October 15, the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police welcomed the Supreme Court to depute any agency for protecting the Hathras victim’s family, but said it should not be a reflection on the fairness of the state police.
Activist-lawyer Indira Jaising, representing interventions by women’s groups in the top court, had also raised concerns of not having a fair trial and requested the trial to be moved to Delhi. She had said that the jurisdictional court could either be the Delhi high court or the Supreme Court.
According to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, the state had accepted the demand for a court-monitored probe and had no objections to periodic reports being filed. He had also referred to an affidavit filed in the apex court by the government which gave details about the security and protection provided to the victim's family and witnesses.
The Yogi Adityanath government has already transferred the case to the CBI and has given consent to monitoring by the Supreme Court.
The CBI took over the case on October 10.
