‘Gangraped’ lawyer demands Supreme Court justice in courtroom drama

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Sep 23, 2014:  A woman lawyer created quite a flutter in Supreme Court on Monday as she stood up in front of the Chief Justice of India and demanded justice for her, while disclosing that she had consumed napthalene balls over the unfair treatment.

The drama unfolded before a three-judge bench headed by CJI R M Lodha. The CJI, along with his two brother judges Justices Kurian Joseph and Rohinton F Nariman, was about to rise after finishing the day’s business when the woman lawyer moved to the front row.

Sobbing, she announced that she had been gangraped by her relatives in November and sought justice. The lawyer alleged that despite lodging an FIR, there was nothing done to bring the guilty to book and she was made to run from pillar to post in the quest for justice. She told the judges that she was not in a state to speak loudly enough.

Since the woman was inaudible, the bench sought the assistance of another woman lawyer who, after speaking to her, told the court that she had consumed naphthalene balls before entering the court hall.

Startled, the bench asked women police personnel in the court to take her to the Supreme Court dispensary. She was then rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

Meanwhile, the court took suo motu cognizance of her plea and decided to convert his verbal complaint to a criminal writ petition. It will hear the matter on Tuesday. The court appointed Vandana Sehgal, the lawyer who was asked to assist her in the court at the time of the incident, as amicus curiae in the case to represent her.

Police said the 35-year-old lawyer, who practices at the Chhattisgarh High Court, was stable. “Just when the court proceedings were coming to a close, she walked up to the CJI and announced that her two brothers-in-law and two others had gangraped her.

She then told CJI Lodha that she had eaten naphthalene balls before coming to the court and was not feeling well. The woman was taken to hospital and is now stable. The matter is still under investigation and we will act in accordance with the Supreme Court orders,” a senior police officer said.

Police said the woman’s family in Chhattisgarh had been informed. Police will also be recording the lawyer’s statement once doctors declare her fit.

 

Courtesy: Indianexpress