Badlapur sexual assault case: Bombay High Court stresses on "beta padhao, beti bachao"

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday said the committee constituted by the State in the wake of Badlapur sexual assault should suggest measures to tackle child sexual assault and similar crimes. .The Court also said the police must not rush the probe into the case merely because of public pressure. "Ensure investigation is proper. Ensure this is not a case of justice hurried ... Don't file a chargesheet in public pressure. Investigation has to be done correctly," the Court stated.The Court was hearing a suo motu case initiated by it after the recent sexual abuse of two 4-year-old girls at a school in Thane's Badlapur.A Bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj K Chavan today underscored the importance of sensitising boys. The Court tweaked the popular slogan of the Central government 'beti padhao, beti bachao' (educate girl, save girl).It said that element of educating boys to "save girls" or "Beta Padhao, Beti Bachao" (educate boy, save girl) should also be looked into by the state.The Court had earlier too said that it was crucial to educate and sensitise boys to tackle such crimes, instead of merely asking girls to stay safe..The Court further added some more members to the committee and said that it would be headed by retired Bombay High Court judges Justices Sadhana Jadhav and Shalini Phansalkar Joshi. The newly added members also include retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Meeran Borwankar.The expanded mandate of this committee, initially established for recommending suggestions to ensure safety and security of girl children in educational institutions, includes suggesting steps to address trauma undergone by child victims of sexual assault. The Court noted that the suggestions made so far by the committee are good, but that the concern lay with its proper implementation.Advocate General Birendra Saraf appeared for the State and assured that every effort would be made to implement suggestions made by the committee.The newly expanded committee was asked to submit a report with its suggestions in eight weeks. The Court also directed the State to make sure private doctors are aware that they cannot refuse to examine victims in cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act)..Further, the Court today said that it was not satisfied with the progress in the probe into the Badlapur case. In particular, the Bench observed that the case diary had been drafted in a very stereotypical manner without properly explaining what steps have been taken in the investigation. "We are not asking you to divulge the case details but It should be reflect in the case diary ... We are not satisfied with the way in which the investigation is conducted so far as ... Purpose of case diary is frustrated if it's written stereotypically. We were expecting the cast diary to reflect concrete steps the SIT has taken," Justice Chavan said. .The Bench proceeded to adjourn the case by four weeks. It recorded the State's assurance that delays earlier noticed in compiling and submitting forensic reports in sexual assault cases, are being addressed. To this end, a special unit has been set up to address pending forensic science lab work, the Court recorded. The State also assured that steps were being taken to apprehend the absconding accused in the Badlapur case. .On a related note, an intervenor also mentioned before the Court another recent child sexual assault case in Saki Naka, Mumbai. According to various reports, a 16-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly raping a 3-year-old child in the neighbourhood.The Court said that it would hear this matter on September 4."We will direct the registry to register this as a separate petition and keep it day after tomorrow," the Bench said..[Read Live Coverage]