SC notices to Centre, Jharkhd in judicial officer's assault case

New Delhi, Mar 3 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre and the State of Jharkhand in a case of alleged physical assault and torture of Mr B V Rao, member(judicial), Central Administrative Tribunal(CAT), Ranchi, by eight police officials in the presence and under the directions of IG police Nirmala Choudhary.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran issued notices acting on a letter sent to the Chief Justice giving details of the incident which took place in the last week of February this year.

The eight police officials involved in assault on the judicial officer, who was on deputation and staying in a guest house, have already been placed under suspension by the State government.

Nirmala Choudhary, an IPS officer, has been referred to a psychiatrist because of her schizophrenic behaviour.

She raided the guest house and threw out the bag and baggage of the judicial officer telling him that according to her information he was involved in terrorist activities.

Her husband, also an IPS officer, has been sent on a long leave because he is having some problems with the state Chief Secretary.

UNI AKS/SC DS ND1533