Delhi HC Initiates Suo Motu Recognition For A Rape Case of a 3-Year-Old At A South Delhi School

The Delhi High Court has initiated suo motu recognition of an alleged incident where a 3-year-old girl was reportedly sexually assaulted by a cleaner at her school. The court has requested information regarding actions taken by the city government and the police.

A bench, led by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, learned of the incident through a news report brought to its attention by a high court judge. Consequently, the court has directed the commencement of a public interest litigation (PIL) based on this report. The bench, which also includes Justice Saurabh Banerjee, has issued a notice on the PIL, requiring authorities to submit a status report while ensuring the protection of the girl child's identity.

The court specifically stated, "Mr. (Santosh Kumar) Tripathi (Delhi government counsel), while filing the status report, will mask the name of the girl child as well as the names of the parents of the girl child, and shall undertake all necessary measures to protect the identity and right to privacy of the girl child."

The court has instructed the Delhi government counsel to ensure compliance with the law safeguarding the identity of minor victims in cases of sexual offenses.

The alleged incident occurred at a school in the Panchsheel Enclave area of south Delhi, with the police receiving the report on August 3. A case has been registered against the accused, Arjun Kumar (33), under sections 376 (rape) and 377 (unnatural offenses) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as section 6 of the POCSO Act. The accused was arrested and sent to judicial custody.

The court will continue to hear the matter on September 1. 

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT University