Girl takes U-turn,says consumed phenyl by mistake

Her statement was read out in the Court of Justice Daya Chaudhary by a UT counsel on Friday. The girl has stated that she was sitting in the hall of Nari Niketan when the floor was being cleaned. She picked up a glass in which the cleaner had mixed phenyl.

She consumed it thinking it to be water. She immediately vomitted and was rushed to the hospital.

When she allegedly attempted suicide,she was reportedly under depression after being separated from her husband,also a minor. The families of the boy and the girl had a dispute as they had objected to the marriage of the couple.

Following a court order,the girl was staying at Nari Niketan as she had not attained the age of marriage. The husband moved the high court seeking release of the girl but the case had been adjourned nearly 15 times.

The habeas petition was also filed on 16 November 2009 but to no avail.

Her husband appeared in the court today. Badly injured,with a bandage around his head,he alleged that his family members have been threatened of false implication by the police if he made a statement against the police.

“I believe the girl attempted suicide since the matter is getting delayed in the court and she is trying to pressurise the court,” the UT counsel said.

Justice Chaudhary,however,remarked: “Both the girl and the boy seem to be under pressure.”

When asked about the Administration’s stand on the issue,the counsel said: “The UT is neither for nor against the stand taken by the girl. We will abide by whatever the court directs us to.”

Justice Chaudhary disapproved the stand taken by the counsel and said the UT must take a stand on the issue.

Counsels appearing for the couple argued for the release of the girl from Nari Niketan. The girl has categorically stated that she does not want to return with her relatives.

According to the law,however,she cannot be kept in Nari Niketan. The court has adjourned the case for Monday to decide as to where the girl should be sent.

Nari Niketan rape: Amicus curiae to draft proposal for victim,child’s welfare
To ensure a safe future for Pari and her mother,the mentally challenged girl who was allegedly raped at Nari Niketan,the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the amicus curiae in the case,senior advocate R S Cheema to draft a proposal for their welfare. The directions were passed by a division bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Augustine George Masih during resumed hearing of a petition on the rape case. The hearing was adjourned to March 19 as the UT Administration sought time to file the status report of the investigation.