The Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI ) has been asked by the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court to file an affidavit indicating progress in the trial of Hathras gang-rape case.

A bench comrising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Jaspreet Singh directed the concerned District Judge to obtain a status report before the next date of hearing from the trial court hearing the case .

The court has observed that the Counsel for the CBI will file an affidavit of some competent officer to aware the court the progress in the trial. Let a status report be also requisitioned from the learned Trial Court through the District Judge, Hathras as to the status of Sessions Trial No.583 of 2020 before the next date,” the Court observed.

A suo moto case that was initiated by the Court was heard by the bench which took cognizance of the 2020 case of Hathras gang rape and murder of a girl belonging to a Scheduled Caste and her cremation in the wee hours of the night by State authorities.

The Court had asked the State government to provide job to the deceased victims family and to relocate the family to another part of the State keeping in mind their social and economic rehabilitation.

The Court in August has also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to sensitize and counsel the officers and employees who are involved in cremation of bodies to follow the SOP for the same.

On August 30, the bench re asked for the the status with respect to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for cremation of bodies.

The court was apprised that the same is under process and will be finalized and notified soon.

The Court has listed the case for hearing on September 20.

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice in a public interest litigation to several social media organizations and media houses for the alleged disclosure of the identity of the Hathras gangrape victim.

The division bench of Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh passed this order while hearing a PIL filed by Advocate Manan Narula through Advocates Suman Chauhan and Jivesh Tiwari.

The PIL alleged gross violation of Section 228A of the Indian Penal Code by the named publications/portals/news organizations and social media platforms.

The Court said that the present Public Interest Litigation is filed for seeking appropriate writ against the inaction of the Respondents No. 1 on the gross and violative actions of the Respondents No. 2 – 16 constituting an offence under Section 228A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The petitioner submitted that on September 14, 2020, a girl was allegedly gangraped in Hathras District, Uttar Pradesh, India by four men, after fighting for her life for 2 weeks, she died in a hospital situated at New Delhi. Following such unfortunate event, Twitter has published information relating to the victim that disclosed the identity of the victim of the Hathras gangrape on domains that are in the public and are accessible to a large public.

The plea sought direction to the Delhi Police be directed to register the FIR against those who violated the Right of Privacy of the victim as they have committed offence under Section 228A of IPC was made out despite which there is no action taken by the respondent.

The petition also sought direction to Delhi Police to take appropriate action so that all respondents take down/withdraw any material, news article, social media post or any such information published by them with reference to the details of the identity of the victim in the particular case or similar cases.

The plea also prayed for orders to all the respondents and similar organisations or individuals that deal in broadcasting of information and be directed to broadcast correct legal provisions 228A IPC, by methods of short videos, clips, flashers, notes, news tickers, social media posts, social media stories or any similar means.

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The Court also directed the Delhi Police to organize legal awareness camps, legal literacy camps, lectures, interactive workshops, newspaper advertisements, hoardings to make people aware about the said legal provision. The matter would be heard next on February 5.