Delhi High Court Addresses Minor’s Assault Case Involving Suspended Government Officer
In a significant move, the Delhi High Court took cognisance of the distressing case involving the sexual assault of a minor girl, allegedly by suspended Delhi government officer, Premoday Khakha. Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula, who presided over the bench, stated,
“the identity of the survivor is not revealed in any manner.” They have proactively initiated a public interest litigation (PIL) after taking suo motu cognisance of the incident.
The court further emphasized the survivor’s rights, stating that she
“should get due protection and compensation.”
During the proceedings, the counsel for the Delhi government and police informed the court about the survivor’s condition, saying,
“the girl is admitted to a government hospital here and her condition is critical.”
In response, the court has requested the Department of Women and Child Development of the Delhi government, the police, and the Centre to “file a report in the matter.” The community awaits the court’s detailed order on this.
The subsequent hearing for this case is scheduled for September 14.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) also voiced its concerns during the hearing. Their counsel stated,
“it has also taken cognisance of the matter and there have been certain anomalies in compliance of rules by authorities.”
They further committed to submitting a report on the same.
Shedding light on the gravity of the incident, it was revealed that Premoday Khakha, the suspended officer, “allegedly raped the girl several times and impregnated her.” He was arrested on August 21 and is currently in judicial custody. Seema Rani, Khakha’s wife, is also under judicial scrutiny, accused of
“giving the girl medicine to terminate her pregnancy.”
The minor had been residing at Khakha’s residence, a known family friend, after her father’s demise in October 2020. The arrests followed the victim’s statement, which was
“recorded before a magistrate at a hospital.”
The case has been registered under various provisions, with the police stating that it includes the POCSO Act and Indian Penal Code sections such as “376(2)(f) (being a relative, guardian or teacher of, or a person in a position of trust or authority towards the woman, commits rape on such woman) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to outrage the modesty of a woman).”
Furthermore, the court sought clarity from the Delhi Police regarding the survivor’s additional revelation. The court questioned,
“what action it has taken with regards to the girl’s disclosure that she was raped by some other people as well.”
The police have committed to further investigation on this matter.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) reiterated its stance, noting certain discrepancies in rule compliance. Following these complaints, the Department of Women and Child formed an internal committee, though the initial findings stated that
“the charges could not be proved.”