The Delhi High Court Chief Justice D Murugesan has asked the trial courts to hear the pending cases of sexual harassment against women on “priority basis.”
“The chief justice has desired that considering the large pendency of cases related to the sexual harassment on women, the priority will be given to such cases.
“With this end in view, it has been directed that all such cases will be segregated by the concerned branches and listed before the courts as per the existing roster on priority basis,” said an administrative circular, issued from the office of Justice Murugesan.
It also said such cases must be heard on priority basis as their penedency has increased.
The order came in the backdrop of a letter written by Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir to all the high courts for setting up fast track courts to deal with cases of sexual offence against women. The CJI had also said that hearing of such cases be given priority.
Justice Murugesan earlier had directed day-to-day trial in all sexual assault cases against women at lower courts, saying the recent “brutal gang rape” incident here has “shaken” the entire nation.
A 23-year-old paramedical student was gang raped and brutally tortured in a moving bus before being thrown out along with her male friend on December 16 here, sparking nation-wide outrage. The girl had died later in a Singapore hospital, succumbing to injuries inflicted upon her.
—PTI