The Supreme Court on Thursday directed transfer of all the cases related to Unnao rape and accident to a Delhi court and said that it finalize the name of the judge who will adjudicate the case later.
The court said that the investigation should be completed within the next seven days from today and if further time is required the investigating team may not revert to the court but may complete the investigation within a further period of seven days.
The conclusion of all the trial cases shall be made within a period of 45 days, the court said
“The accused… will be at liberty to approach the court for modification. The order is being passed ex parte having consideration to the facts and circumstances of the case,” the court said.
Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta during the course of proceedings informed the court that an oral communication with the doctors has been made and they are of the view that the transfer of the victim is not necessary however she is medically fit to be shifted.
“A written report of the doctors will soon follow,” said SG.
“The victim has been medically certified by the doctors to be transferred however since all the facilities are present in the Lucknow hospital there is no need to transfer the victim,” the court further said and instructed amicus Senior Adv V Giri to take instructions with the family of the victim for advanced treatment and transfer of the victim.
The court also directed UP government to disburse an interim compensation of Rs 25 lakhs to the victim.
“Security and protection shall be provided to the lawyer of the victim, the mother of the victim, Mahesh Singh and his family. Such security and protection shall be provided by CRPF,” the court added.
It further directed the standing counsel for the State of UP to inform the court as whether the uncle of the victim has been moved out of the jail for security reasons or not.
The court didn’t penalize the SC registry for not reporting the letter written by victim’s family but directed registry to find out whether there is any lapses or negligence on part of the registry.
It also directed the registry to conclude the investigation within 7 days.
The court also said that report of the investigation will be submitted to the bench formed by it.
Earlier, the court had asked the SG how much time the CBI would take to complete the investigation?
To which the SG said the CBI would need one month to conclude the investigation.
Court had asked the SG to conclude the investigation within seven days.
SG informed the court that the victim is on ventilator in St. George’s Medical College in Lucknow.
To which the court had replied: “We don’t want to move the victim but in case the team of doctors prescribe then we will move the victim to AIIMS.”
Amicus had also informed the court that the victim has not been provided any protection and the incident may either be an accident or a planned accident.
He also said that the victim and her family should be provided protection.
CJI had said: “We are looking into the nature of the petition if protection is to be extended to the victim, the witnesses and also payment of compensation.”
—India Legal Bureau