Email spurs HC to ask Magistrate for explanation in rape case

New Delhi, July 20 (UNI) An email spurred the Delhi High Court to ask Metropolitan Magistrate (Rohini courts) today for explanation as to why she did not allow the recording of statement by a minor rape victim.

Hearing the case suo motu, the Division bench headed by Justice R S Sodhi and H R Malhotra ordered that the magistrate (Rohini courts) Barkha Gupta would have to expain on 26 July as to why the statement of the minor rape victim could not be recorded as yet.

Besides, the court also served notice to Delhi police for their reply on 26 July when the case would be heard.

The case involved the rape of a 7-year-old girl. About which, the court came to know through an email. Justice Madan Lokur of the Delhi High Court first received an email reporting the incident.

The identity of the sender was not divulged as yet. It was not clear as to when the incident happened. However, Justice Lokur promptly forwarded it to the division bench spurring them to action.

The email gave the details of how the Rohini Magistrate sat over the incident. It alleged that although the police moved the Metropolitan Magistrate court on 30 May for recording the statement of the rape victim, all it could get from the magistrate were adjournments.

Mincing no words, the court expressed its dismay. "We are appalled over the insensitivity," the judges said.

The court urged the National Human Rights Commission to assist the police in concluding investigations.

UNI