The Supreme Court has directed the Ghaziabad Police to provide a copy of the charge sheet filed in the case of the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl to the victim’s father. The court also ordered two private hospitals to submit affidavits clarifying their stance on allegedly denying medical treatment to the child.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued the directive after the victim’s father, a daily wager, approached the court seeking a monitored investigation by the CBI or a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The father’s counsel, senior advocate N Hariharan, argued that the child could have survived if immediate medical intervention had been provided, alleging that private hospitals refused treatment.
The court acknowledged the father’s distress, with the Chief Justice remarking on the disturbing nature of the situation when individuals have to approach the apex court. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Ghaziabad Police, informed the Bench that a charge sheet had been filed on April 3 under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the trial court had taken cognizance.
ASG Bhati clarified that the charge sheet was filed prior to the victim’s father filing his petition in the Supreme Court. However, the Bench expressed concern, noting that the filing of a charge sheet should not be the point at which victims’ families are informed of the judicial process.
The case involves allegations that the four-year-old girl was lured away by a neighbour on March 16 under the pretext of buying chocolates. When she did not return, her father searched for her and found her unconscious and bleeding. The subsequent refusal of treatment by two private hospitals in Ghaziabad and the eventual declaration of her death at a government hospital have drawn severe criticism.
Senior advocate Hariharan contended that the initial FIR did not mention rape, and there was initial reluctance in lodging the report and commencing the investigation. He further alleged that the victim’s father was subjected to pressure to withdraw his petition, indicating the significant challenges faced by the grieving family.
The Supreme Court had previously expressed shock over the incident on April 10 and had summoned the Ghaziabad Police Commissioner, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Nandgram police station, and the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case to appear with complete case records. While the Police Commissioner was later permitted to leave due to prevailing law-and-order situations in Noida and Ghaziabad related to labour unrest, the ACP, SHO, and IO remained present for the proceedings.
The victim’s father’s counsel highlighted the alleged ill-treatment of the father while attempting to lodge the initial report, and pointed to the existence of video recordings showing the child alive after the incident, urging the court to consider them. The Bench, while acknowledging the parental grief, advised that prosecution efforts should be primarily focused on the accused.
The court’s intervention underscores the gravity of the allegations, including the alleged refusal of medical care by private healthcare providers, which exacerbates the tragedy of the child’s death. The Supreme Court has set the matter for further hearing next week, indicating that the investigation into the case and the accountability of all parties involved remain under scrutiny.
The legal proceedings aim to ensure justice for the victim and to address systemic issues highlighted by the case, including the prompt provision of medical aid and the thorough investigation of grave offences against children. The court’s order for affidavits from the hospitals signifies a step towards clarifying the sequence of events and determining responsibility for the alleged denial of life-saving treatment.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
