Allahabad (ILNS): The alleged rape and subsequent death of the 19-year-old woman in Hathras has led to a nationwide outrage. The manner in which the Uttar Pradesh government and the state administration have dealt with the case is also under scanner. As if their plight in losing their child wasn’t enough, now the government has even decided to conduct a narco test on the family members.
Today, activist Saket Gokhale moved the Allahabad High Court in a letter petition against the proposed narco analysis test to be conducted on the victim’s family of the horrific Hathras incident. The activist has moved the Allahabad high court, seeking a stay on narco analysis test to be conducted on victim’s family.
The letter petition comes shortly after the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court took suo motu cognizance of the shocking incident, particularly the action of the UP Police to cremate the victim’s remains in the dead of the night, allegedly without the consent or presence of the victim’s family.
Gokhale’s petition states that the proposed narco analysis test is a means to coerce the family members and intimidate them against deposing before the court. Therefore, the petitioner has prayed for an immediate stay on the narco analysis test planned by the UP State authorities and the Special Investigation Team on the victim’s family until their version of facts is recorded by the Honorable Court during the next hearing on October 12.
The coercion, Gokhale says, is in violation of the orders of the Court. “Subjecting the family of the victim to a narco-analysis test goes against all principles of natural justice as they’re neither accused in the case nor have been charged with any offence. Using an interrogation technique on the victim’s family is a blatant form of coercion.” says the letter petition.
The date of hearing in the case is fixed for October 12 when the family of the victim is expected to be present before the Court to depose.
While the high court’s order was passed on October 1, the executive’s plan to conduct the narco analysis test was declared on October 2 in a press release.
Gokhale, therefore, also avers in his petition that the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police of Hathras be transferred or sent on leave in the meantime till the completion of the suo motu matter before the Court.
-ILNS