National Commission for Women India, announces lawyers committee to probe Ruchika case

In a clear indictment of the Punjab Police and the state government, National Commission for Women chairperson, Girija Vyas set up a committee to examine the Ruchika Girhotra case.

The NCW is also examining whether it can file a case to get damage compensation for Ruchika Girhotra’s family. Vyas told reporters that she was setting up a committee of lawyers to examine the sequence of events that took place in the Ruchika Girhotra case, who committed suicide due to alleged harassment by former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore.

A CBI special court sentenced Rathore to six months imprisonment, and a fine of Rs 1000. That too, came 19 years after 14-year-old Ruchika complained that he had sexually harassed her. She had also alleged that after she complained Rathore used his influence with the state machinery to harass and threaten her family and friends in a bid to get her to withdraw the case.

Vyas said she was unhappy about the manner in which the state government had handled the case. She said she had written to the Haryana government asking it to file an appeal against the verdict. Vyas said she had learnt that the police had withdrawn the charge of abetting suicide against Rathore.

“I have taken up the issue of the judgement with the Haryana Chief Minister. I requested him to have an appeal filed against this recent judgement,” Vyas told reporters.

The NCW chairperson has also written to the Law Ministry to suggest that it could intervene in the matter if other arms of the state machinery were found wanting. Vyas said if the state government did not share her views on appealing against the verdict, the NCW too could intervene and appeal.

In a related development, Vyas also shot off a letter to the Union Home Ministry asking it to table the proposed bill against sexual assault.

The draft bill is with the Home Ministry. This bill in addition to existing provisions of rape deals with all other forms of sexual assault on women. If it becomes law, all forms of sexual assault against women, would be under a single legislation. “I have asked the Home Minister to expedite its introduction in Parliament,” Vyas said.

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