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Women groups seek action against judge

Special Correspondent

Statement of attempted rape victim recorded in `captivity' of the accused

JAIPUR: Women's organisations have appealed to the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, Justice Yaad Ram Meena, to take action against Additional District Judge Ajay Kumar Sharda of the Special Judge (SC-ST) Court for taking the statement of an alleged victim of attempted rape while in the "captivity'' of the accused inside his courtroom here on July 13.

The representatives of women's organisations and activist bodies, who met Mr. Justice Meena on Monday, also sought an enquiry by the High Court into the "criminal offence'' that the kin of the accused committed in the District and Sessions Court premises by attacking the media and activists on the day of the recording of the statement.

Memo to Chief Justice

In a memorandum to the Chief Justice -- which they sought to be treated as a public interest petition -- the representatives, Ladkumari Jain, Nisha Siddhu, Mewa Bharti and Kavita Srivastava, said it was a clear violation of rules of in-camera proceedings on the part of the judge to allow a menacing crowd to surround prosecutrix when her statement was taken. "The in-camera trial was a joke. Neither it was as per Section 327 of the Cr.P.C. nor were the Sakshi case guidelines on in camera proceedings of putting a screen implemented. Instead the girl was asked in the presence of 30 people, (including) the four accused, and not independently, whether she was under pressure,'' they said.

When the statement was taken the victim was not in the witness box but was standing next to the accused, it was pointed out.

Referring to the anomalies in the proceedings in the case, the activists said on the first day -- on July 12 -- the prosecutrix was brought to the court of Additional District Judge II by more than 50 men and women, belonging to the side of the accused --Rajeev Singh, Mahendra Singh, Vijayendra Singh and Abhay Godara.

Although no summon had been served the girl was brought there by the accused. The judge, in the name of in camera trial threw out the members of the women's bodies while allowing the girl to be surrounded by 40-50 persons, they said.

Next day the prosecutrix was brought in a car with a Delhi number plate by the kin of the accused with her face covered. "...she was lifted by three men and brought inside the court room a few steps in front of the witness box in the presence of the reader, clerk and Judge,'' the memorandum said.

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