Court rapped for giving bail to 5 staffers

May 07, 2013 |

Age Correspondent

mumbai

Observing that the lower courts should deal with cases of sexual abuse with more seriousness, the Bombay HC on Monday rapped the lower court for granting bail to five employees who are accu-sed of sexually assaulting minors in a shelter home.
The division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M. S. Sanklecha was hearing a suo moto petition based on news-reports on the alleged sexual abuse of 35 minor girls at a Nashik shelter home. The court was informed on Monday that the five persons accused of sexual abuse were granted bail by a magistrate court last month.
Expressing his displeasure, the Chief Justice said, “Our magistrates should take a serious stand in such cases. We have directed that trials in cases of sexual abuse be expedited, on earlier occasions as well.” The bench also rapped the state government for not opposing the bail and seeking its cancellation.
Advocate General Darius Khambata on Monday informed the court that a showcause notice had been issued to the trustees of the shelter home, asking why its licenses should not be revoked. He also informed the court that the victims had been cleared from the shelter home. “Fifty-nine out of 62 inmates have been shifted to another shelter home in Pune. The remaining three are in their guardians’ custody,” Khambata had said.
The bench adjourned the matter for Tuesday and directed the state government to submit a copy of the magistrate court’s bail order. A city tabloid in an issue in March had written about the sexual harassment and physical abuse of 35 female inmates of a Nashik-based shelter. The inmates had sent letters to the NGO Childline, alleging harassment at the hands of a trustee and four other male employees at the shelter. Childline volunteers then went to the home located in the isolated Chamar Leni area and interviewed the inmates.
After reading the news story, the Bombay high court had taken a suo-moto litigation on the same. Four caretakers and another employee of the shelter were arrested.

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