Jharkhand High Court: Taking suo motu cognizance on the basis of news report published in the ‘Hindustan Times’ dated 29th August, 2015 relating to sorrow and disheartening aftermath of a poor labourer father and a nine year old girl, who is victim of rape, the Court directed the Member Secretary, Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) with the Chairman, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), East Singhbhum for providing best medical assistance, care and protection to the victim girl.
In the present case, the victim girl was lured by the local driver with some chocolate before raping her and later on, she was abandoned by a riverside with a ruptured intestine. She was referred to Ranchi hospital by the local hospital authorities. She underwent a colectomy in Ranchi to remove her damaged intestine and at present she has to use a colostomy bag. After the successful surgery, doctors managed to check the bleeding and discharged her; but her wounds have to be dressed regularly at home. As per the newspaper report, the father walks four km to the nearest health centre each time to have her dressing changed because the Maoist-hit area has no public transport and he cannot afford even a bicycle.
On the basis of the news report, the Court took suo motu cognizance and directed the State of Jharkhand to pay interim compensation of Rs. 1,00,000 to the father of victim girl. The Court also directed the Deputy Commissioner to submit a detailed report on or before the next date of hearing, of all the steps taken by the administration to alleviate the suffering of the rape survivor. Court on its own motion v. State of Jharkhand, 2015 SCC OnLine Jhar 2987, decided on August 29, 2015