The Delhi High Court on Monday (February 5) rebuked the counsel appearing for Union of India (UoI) for failing to protect the illegally detained girls at Adhyatmic Vishwavidyalya, Rohini, New Delhi.

The bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar while hearing the plea seeking strict action against the head of Adhyatmic Vishwavidyalya, Virender Dev Dikshit alleging that the head sexually assaulted minor girls by illegally detaining them was informed by the counsel on Monday that they could not provide protection to the girls as it was a University.

Upon hearing this, the bench reprimanded the counsel saying to stop using the word ‘University’ as it was not a University. The bench told the counsel: “The Adhyatmic Vishwavidyalya is not an institution. The respondent has not fulfilled the requirement of University so they are prohibited to use the name Vishwavidyalya or University. Showcause notice has been issued from UGC on January 10, 2018 to not to use the name University. We have examined the statute.”

The bench posted the matter for next hearing to February 8.

—India Legal Bureau