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Lawyers threaten to boycott nun rape case trial

CUTTACK: The trial of sensational Kandhamal nun rape case—currently undergoing at the district court here is likely to suffer in future as all the three prosecution (crime branch) lawyers on Monday decided not to conduct the case henceforth.

The prosecution lawyers have taken the decision for what they called “indifferent” attitude of the State government in deciding the quantum of their fees and timely payment of the dues.

“The quantum of fees approved by the government for us is highly inadequate and moreover, the government is making inordinate delay in payments”, alleged one of the engaged lawyers in the case.

While Laxmidhar Mishra, a senior advocate of the city was appointed as special public prosecution in the case, Sangam Sahu and Akhaya Naik were appointed to assist the special PP.

A daily remuneration of Rs. 3,500 per appearance for the PP and Rs.1,400 each for the associates were fixed by the government. Besides, the PP was to get Rs. 3,000 for each three hours of consultancy and another Rs.2,000 per month as retainer fee. Similarly, the associates were to get Rs.1,000 as consultancy fee for each three hours and a monthly retainer of Rs.1,000 each.

“Although, we agreed with this fee structure under protest, the government had failed miserably in making the payments to us in time”, said an associate adding that after much persuasion, truncated payments for July and August were released only recently.

The prosecution lawyers have informed about their decision to the Cuttack district sessions judge B.K. Mishra on Monday and have threatened that if their payments as agreed are not paid immediately, they would not conduct the case henceforth.

However, on Monday, a prosecution witness — the doctor who examined the nun for the first time after she was allegedly raped on August 25, 2008—was recalled for cross-examination by the defence counsels.

Sangita Mishra during her cross examination informed the court that there were no blood or semen stains found in the wearing apparels of the nun while she was examined by her.

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