The Supreme Court on Thursday said the Allahabad High Court be allowed to monitor the Hathras case in which a Dalit girl was allegedly brutally raped and died of injuries.
The top court, which was hearing a PIL and several intervention pleas of activists and lawyers, was told that no fair trial was possible in Uttar Pradesh as the investigation has been allegedly botched up.
Allaying the apprehension, a bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde, said “Let the high court deal with it. We are here if there is any problem.”
Besides Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the hearing saw battery of senior advocates like Harish Salve, Indira Jaising and Siddharth Luthra appearing for various parties.
There were other lawyers who wanted to argue but the SC said, “We don’t need assistance of the whole world.”
The hearing also witnessed deliberations that in no case the victim’s identity be disclosed and her family members and witnesses be given full security and protection.
The lawyer, appearing for the victim’s family, demanded that the proceedings of the case be shifted out of Uttar Pradesh to a court in the Delhi.
The apprehension of not having the fair trial in the State was also raised by activist-lawyer Indira Jaising.
At the outset, the Solicitor General referred to recent affidavit filed by the Uttar Pradesh Government which gave details about the security and protection provided to the victim’s family and witnesses in the case.