The Orissa High Court (HC) on Tuesday refused to order a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the self-immolation of a college student who had accused a teacher of sexual harassment, PTI reported.
A division bench led by Chief Justice Harish Tandon, and also comprising Justice Manas Ranjan Pathak, expressed satisfaction with the ongoing investigation by the Crime Branch. It also issued notices to the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress for calling a bandh on July 17, which, the court said, disrupted normal life.
The 20-year-old second-year Integrated B Ed student of a Balasore college had immolated herself on July 12, shortly after leaving the principal’s chamber. She had reportedly been distressed over alleged inaction regarding her complaint against a professor. She succumbed to her injuries at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar on the night of July 14, having suffered 95 per cent burns.
A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by an advocate seeking the constitution of an SIT, to be monitored by the high court. However, the bench noted that the Crime Branch investigation, led by an Inspector General-rank Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, was proceeding satisfactorily.
Advocate General Pitambar Acharya submitted a status report, assuring the court that the state government was making all efforts to ensure justice for the victim. He informed the bench that both the teacher concerned and the then principal of the college had been arrested.
The court voiced concern over the politicisation of the incident, condemning bandh calls, road blockades, and picketing at government offices and hospitals as disruptive to public life and in violation of Supreme Court guidelines, reported PTI.
The AG told the court that some political parties were resorting to undemocratic strikes and protests, including staging demonstrations inside hospitals such as AIIMS and paralysing public transport, thereby affecting operations at public offices.
The petitioner’s advocate also told the bench that he had been unable to attend court on July 17 due to the bandh.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the mode of protest, the bench issued notices to the BJD and Congress, asking them to respond to the PIL within three weeks, reported PTI.
The court noted that such calls for bandh were a blatant violation of Supreme Court rulings that prohibit disruption of normal life under the guise of protest.
The matter will be heard further after the replies are filed.
(With PTI inputs)