PIL filed over difficulties faced by repeated sexual assault victim
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 08 2015 : A Public interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the High Court of Manipur in consideration of a minor girl who had been sexually assaulted repeatedly after which she became pregnant.

A suo motu FIR case in connection with the sexual assault case was taken up on July 12, 2013 by the Officer-in-Charge, Kakching Police Station and subsequently failed to complete the investigation and submit charge sheet within the stipulated period of three months.

In cases of criminal cases taken up under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) the trial of the matter is required to be completed as far as possible within a period of one year.

The victim girl was not provided financial relief and support services under the Financial Assistance and Support Services to Victims of Rape: A Scheme for Restorative Justice, a Centrally sponsored scheme.

Human Rights law Network, Manipur (HRLN) has been providing necessary legal assistance to the survivors of sexual assaults especially minor girls in order to award punishment to the perpetrators within reasonable period of time, a release said.

However, due to blatant failure of on the part of the State machineries to submit necessary chrge sheets on time, several accused persons are allowed to go on bail, which ultimately increases vulnerability to the victims in different forms, it said.

In order to put an end to such lethargic and systematic failure on the part of the State machineries, assistant director of HRLN Thokchom Premlata filed the above PIL and this was moved on Friday before a division bench of the High Court of Manipur comprising Justice N Kitiswar Singh and Justice N Nobin Singh.

After having heard the counsels of the parties, the State apex court issued notice of motion requiring the State respondents to furnish their response within three weeks.

The respondents in the PIL are the State of Manipur through the Principal Secretary (Home) to the Government of Manipur, the Director General of Police, Manipur and the Special Secretary (Social Welfare), Government of Manipur.

The PIL has been filed under the active initiation of HRLN.

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