Pollachi case: Plea for woman-led fact-finding team

The plea moved by 10 women advocates said the fact-finding team led by a senior advocate should also include a retired woman police officer and a woman social worker and that they should file a report based on their findings.

The first bench comprising Chief Justice V K Tahilramani and Justice M Duraiswamy on Saturday issued notice in the matter and posted the case for further hearing to June 7.

The plea also sought for the constitution of a complaint committee led by a senior woman advocate and comprising office bearers of the Women Lawyer Association and other interested women lawyers to assist women in lodging complaints in sexual crimes and to extend counselling.

Citing the failure of the State machinery in protecting the victim’s identity and the delay in registering the case, the plea sought for a direction to the transfer the case to a Special Investigation Team led by a gender-sensitive officer not below the rank of DIG to investigate the case under the supervision of the High Court.

Also, noting that an accused in the case had admitted that there were several other victims in the Pollachi sex racket, the plea said the victims were reluctant to approach the authorities owing to the shabby handling of the case by the State.

Based on this, it sought for a direction to the Inspector General of Police to register criminal cases against the police authorities and media persons who had unlawfully divulged the survivor’s name in the case.It may be noted that two other PILs in the matter are already pending before the first bench in this case. The Court issued notice in a plea by six women lawyers seeking directions to create a safe environment for the survivors of the Pollachi rape case while another PIL sought for a court-monitored probe into the matter.