THE BOMBAY HC (GOA BENCH) ISSUES A NOTICE TO TARUN TEJPAL ON GOA GOVT'S APPEAL CHALLENGING HIS ACQUITTAL

The Goa Bench of Bombay HC issued a notice to Tarun Tejpal regarding the appeal challenging the acquittal of the former editor in chief in a sexual assault case.

SG Tushar Mehta appearing for the Goa government, stated that the judgment lack sensitivity for the crimes against women. He also submitted that such insensitive remakes on how the victim should behave after a sexual assault had set a bad precedent. Moreover, during cross-examination, the court acted as a mute spectator when the defence asked insensitive questions that shamed the victim.

Justice SC Gupta observed that the prima facie case is made out to grant leave to hear the appeal. The Hon'ble Court also called for the record of the sexual assault case from the trial court. Justice SC Gupta also ordered the Trial court to redact references of the identity of the victim and her family in the judgment. He further remarked that the trial court's judgment seemed like a manual on how rape victims should behave.

Author - Papiha Ghoshal