Hathras gang rape: Supreme Court seeks response from Central and UP governments on plea by victim's family for relocation outside UP

The Supreme Court on Friday sought the response of the Uttar Pradesh government on a plea by the family members of the deceased-victim in the Hathras gangrape case seeking orders for their relocation outside the State of Uttar Pradesh (UP)..The family has sought relocation, preferably to Delhi, citing the inhuman treatment and socio-economic deprivation of victims and witnesses in UP..A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and posted the case for hearing next on September 8, 2023. .The victim, a 19-year-old Dalit girl, was gang-raped in Hathras on September 14, 2020 and the accused also attempted to kill her. She succumbed to her injuries at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital on September 29.When her mortal remains were taken to her native place, the UP Police and administration allegedly cremated her body forcefully without the family's consent or their presence, in the dead of the night..A special court had, in March this year, acquitted three persons and convicted one in the gang rape case. Accused Ramu, Lavkush and Ravi were acquitted while accused Sandeep was convicted for the offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and for offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and sentenced to life imprisonment. In their plea before the Supreme Court, the victims said that the perpetrators of the offence were members of the dominant community. The victim’s family pointed out that since they belong to a socially and economically prejudiced community, they could face further untoward social ramifications.The family relied on sections 15A and 21(III) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act which provide for protection of the rights of victims and witnesses including but not limited to ‘relocation’ within the State..The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had in July 2022 directed the Uttar Pradesh government to evaluate the possibility of providing employment to a family member of the Hathras gang rape victim and to move the family to another part of the State to aid in their social and economic rehabilitation.The Lucknow bench reasoned that given the attention the case had garnered, it would be difficult for the family to remain in the village. .Hathras case: UP court says no medical evidence of gang rape; possible that victim was tutored to change statement.[Read Order]