SATYAMA DUBEY vs. UNION OF INDIA

1                                                             REPORTABLE  IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA  CRIMINAL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION              WRIT PETITION (CRIMINAL) NO. 296 OF 2020 Satyama Dubey & Ors.            .…  Petitioner(s) Versus Union of India & Ors.                 …. Respondent(s) WITH Writ Petition (Crl) No.304/2020,  Writ Petition (Crl) No.308/2020, Writ Petition (Crl) No.314/2020, AND Writ Petition (Crl) No.316/2020 J U D G M E N T Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by GULSHAN KUMAR ARORA Date: 2020.10.27 15:59:21 IST Reason: 1. The petitioners and all the intervening applicants in these   matters   have   raised   concern   with   regard   to   the WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 2 manner in which a 19 years old girl hailing from Hathras, Uttar   Pradesh   is   alleged   to   have   been   raped,   brutally assaulted;   due   to   which   she   lost   her   life   and   also   the manner in which she was cremated. The Writ Petition (Crl) No.296/2020 was initially taken on board by this Court and notice was ordered to the respondents returnable in a week. In   the   meanwhile,   the   remaining   petitions   and   the applications were filed in respect of the same incident to seek for varied reliefs which are all ultimately in pursuit of a fair investigation and bring to justice the culprits.   2. The details of the other applications and writ petitions are as follows:

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 3

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 4

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 5

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 6

3. For a brief narration shorn of unnecessary details and to note the nature of the relief sought, the petition in W.P. (Crl.)   No.296/2020   is   referred.   In   the   Writ   Petition   filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India the petitioners are   praying   that   the   Union   of   India   and   concerned authorities be ordered to conduct a fair investigation; if need arise   by   transferring   the   case   to   the   Central   Bureau   of Investigation (‘CBI’ for short) or SIT be formed to investigate the   matter.   It   is   also   prayed   that   a   sitting   or   retired Supreme Court Judge or High Court Judge be appointed to look into the matter. The petitioners have further prayed that the case be transferred from Hathras, Uttar Pradesh to Delhi.  4. The   case   as   put   forth   is   that   a   19­year­old   girl, resident of Hathras village in Uttar Pradesh was brutally WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 7 gang­raped.   The   manner   in   which   she   was   assaulted   is referred   to   in   the   petition.   Though   she   was   shifted   to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, she breathed her last and she was   cremated   in   the   middle   of   the   night   without   the presence of her family members. Considering the manner in which the entire incident had taken place, the petitioners contended that a fair investigation would be possible only if the matter is entrusted to an independent agency.  5. The   pleadings   in   the   other   writ   petitions   and   the intervention applications are relating to the same incident though   different   reliefs   have   been   sought,   which   in   any event is to secure fair investigation and punish the guilty in accordance with law.  6. At the outset, when the first of the petition was taken up by this Court on 16.10.2020, Mr. Tushar Mehta, learned Solicitor   General   had   fairly   submitted   that   the   instant petition would not be considered as an adversarial litigation and   the   respondents   are   also   interested   that   a   fair investigation be conducted and the offenders be brought to book. At that stage, it was noticed that the Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench having taken note of the incident WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 8 had passed a detailed order dated 01.10.2020 and ordered registration   of   the   suo   moto   petition   being PIL(C)No.16150/2020. In that circumstance this Court was of the   prima facie   view that the petitions filed before this Court   need   not   be   entertained   at   this   stage   since   the jurisdictional High Court was seized of the matter. However, Ms. Indira Jaising, learned Senior Counsel while intervening on behalf of the intervening advocates had raised concern with regard to the adequate protection being provided to the victim’s family members and the witnesses. Having found that such concern raised needs to be addressed, the learned Solicitor General was requested to secure instructions on these aspects and file an appropriate affidavit.  7. Pursuant thereto, an affidavit dated 14.10.2020 sworn to   by   the   Special   Secretary,   Home   Department,   Uttar Pradesh is filed, wherein the details of the security provided is indicated. In that regard it is stated that the parents, two brothers, one sister­in­law and grandmother of the victim who are residing at village Chandpa,   District Hathras, Uttar Pradesh have been provided protection under a three­fold protection   mechanism   through   (a)   Armed   Constabulary WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 9 Component, (b) Civil Police Component and (c) Installation of   CCTV   cameras/lights.   The   details   of   each   of   the component is also stated in the affidavit and it is further stated   that   the   Inspector   (In­charge)   of   Police   Station Chandpa has been made In­charge of the aforesaid entire arrangement to deploy suitable police force for the same. The   Circle   Officer,   Sadabad   is   to   ensure   robust   security arrangement by holding regular clear briefings to the police force and to inform the family members about the security arrangements   provided   to  them.   The   affidavit  also   states that on enquiry from the family members of the victim it is learnt that they have engaged Ms. Seema Kushwaha and Mr. Raj Ratan, Advocates on behalf of the family as their private advocates.  8. The affidavit also indicates that the investigation by the CBI would be conducted under the supervision of the Court in  a time bound manner. The  Director  General  of Police,   State   of   Uttar   Pradesh   has   also   filed   an   affidavit indicating   that   the   State   Government   itself   has   sought investigation   by   the   CBI   to   be   conducted   under   the supervision   of   the   Court   and   on   10.10.2020   the   CBI WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 10 accepted   the   request   of   the   State   and   has   started investigation in respect of the crime, on 11.10.2020. The orders   dated   01.10.2020   and   12.10.2020   passed   by   the High   Court   and   the   fact   that   the   High   Court   has   been apprised that the investigation by the CBI was in progress is stated therein.  9. In   addition   to   hearing   Mr.   Tushar   Mehta,   learned Solicitor General who appeared for the State, Mr. Harish Salve,   learned   Senior   Counsel   for   DGP   and   Smt.   Seema Kushwaha on behalf of the family members of the victim as also the other learned counsel lead by Ms. Indira Jaising, Mr.   Colin   Gonsalves,   learned   Senior   Counsel  who   raised concern on behalf of the victim’s family in the various writ petitions   and   applications,   we   have   taken   note   of   the submission made by Mr. Sidharth Luthra, learned senior counsel who sought to appear on behalf of the accused to contend that the legal right available to the accused ought not to be ignored in the process.  10. Though   various   contentions   were   urged,   the undisputed fact is that the investigation has in fact been entrusted   by   the   State   Government   itself   to   the   CBI   on WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 11 10.10.2020 and the CBI has started investigation in respect of the crime on 11.10.2020. Therefore, the apprehensions expressed by the petitioners/applicants that there would be no   proper   investigation   if   the   Uttar   Pradesh   Police conducted   the   same   would   not   remain   open   for consideration at this stage and the grievance to that extent stands redressed. Though the petitioners had sought and the   respondent­State   also   through   their   affidavit   had indicated that this Court can monitor the same, as already referred   to   above,   a   PIL(C)No.16150/2020   has   been registered in the Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench, suo moto  pursuant to its order dated 01.10.2020. From the order passed by the High Court it is noticed that the High Court has adequately delved into the aspects relating to the case to secure fair investigation and has also secured the presence of the father, mother, brother and sister­in­law of the   victim   and   appropriate   orders   are   being   passed, including securing reports from various quarters. In that circumstance, we do not find it necessary to divest the High Court   of   the   proceedings   and   take   upon   this   Court   to monitor   the   proceedings/investigation.   That   apart,   the WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 12 incident having occurred within the jurisdiction of that High Court   and   all   particulars   being   available,   it   would   be appropriate for the High Court to proceed to monitor the investigation in the manner in which it would desire. In that view, it would be open for the writ petitioners/applicants herein to seek to intervene in the matter before the High Court subject to consideration of such request by the High Court and if it finds the need to take into consideration the contentions   to   be   urged   by   the   petitioners/applicants   in that regard.  11. Insofar as the protection to the victim’s family and the witnesses,   the   limited   purpose   for   which   this   Court  had directed notice and sought for an affidavit; the affidavit as filed   no   doubt   indicates   that   sufficient   steps   have   been taken by the State Government to provide protection. Ms. Indira   Jaising,   learned   Senior   Counsel   would   however, contend that the protection as provided through the State Police would not be appropriate and as such the protection be directed to be provided by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). It is further contended by her that a Special WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 13 Public   Prosecutor   be   appointed   and   the   monitoring   be made. 12.   Having   taken   note   of   the   contentions   and   having perused the affidavit filed on behalf of the State Government we are convinced that steps have been taken by the State Government to make adequate arrangement for security to the victim’s family and witnesses. However, in a matter of the present nature it is necessary to address the normal perception and pessimism which cannot be said as being without   justification.     In   that   view,   without   casting   any aspersions on the security personnel of the State Police; in order to allay all apprehensions and only as a confidence building measure, we find it appropriate to direct that the security to the victim’s family and the witnesses shall be provided by the CRPF within a week from today. 13. On the aspect relating to the investigation, since we have indicated that the High Court would look into that aspect of the matter, the CBI shall report to the High Court in   the   manner   as   would   be   directed   by   the   High   Court through its orders from time to time. On the request of Ms. Indira Jaising, learned senior counsel for appointment of a WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 14 Special   Public   Prosecutor   we   see   no   need   to   pass   any specific order. This is an aspect which could be considered by   the   High   Court   in   the   light   of   the   provisions   of   the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities)   Act,   1989.   In   the   circumstance   wherein   the family members of the victim have chosen to engage Ms. Seema Kushwaha and Mr. Raj Ratan, Advocates, they would consider these aspects and make request on behalf of the victim in accordance with law if such need arises.  14. Therefore,   without   expressing   any   opinion   on   the merits of the rival contentions, all aspects of the matter are left   open   to   be   considered   by   the   High   Court   in   PIL(C) No.16150/2020 relating to the incident regarding which the investigation is to be conducted by the CBI and also with regard to the grievance put forth alleging illegal cremation. With   regard   to   the   protection   to   the   victim’s   family   and witnesses, the respondent No.2 (Chief Secretary, State of U.P) in WP(Crl) No.296/2020 shall bring this order to the notice of the competent officer of the CRPF forthwith with a request to provide adequate security to the victim’s family WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 15 and the witnesses and the CRPF shall take steps to provide the same and shall report the same to the High Court. 15. Insofar as the transfer of the case to Delhi as sought by   the   petitioners/applicants,   Ms.   Seema   Kushwaha, learned counsel for the victim’s family indicated that the need   for   transfer   would   arise   after   the   investigation   is complete.   On this aspect we are also of the view that it would be appropriate for investigating agency to complete the investigation and in any event since the local police have been divested of the investigation and the CBI is carrying out   the   investigation   there   would   be   no   room   for apprehensions   at   this   stage.     However,   the   issue   as   to whether the trial of the case is to be transferred is a matter which is kept open to be considered if need arises in future. 16. Before parting, we take note of the submission of the learned Solicitor General about the name and relationship of the family members with the victim being depicted in the face of the order dated 12.10.2020 passed by the High Court in PIL(C) No.16150/2020.  Since it is a requirement of law to avoid such disclosure, the High Court is requested to WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc. 16 delete the same and also morph the same in the digital records and avoid indication of such contents in future.  17. In terms of the above observations and directions, the writ petitions and applications stand disposed of.  No costs. ..…………....................CJI.       (S. A. Bobde) …..…………....................J. (A. S. Bopanna) ..…..………......................J       (V. Ramasubramanian) October 27 , 2020 NEW DELHI WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.