On Friday the Supreme Court instructed the Uttar Pradesh DGP to form this SIT to investigate the alleged rape and murder, and to do so quickly, while also pausing the current trial. This happened because the girl’s parents didn’t think the local police had done a good job with the investigation.
What the Supreme Court ordered
Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi gave very specific instructions for a new, and more focused, investigation. The court wants the SIT to be established preferably on Friday, or by 11am on Saturday.
The court set specific conditions for the SIT:
– Notify the team by Friday or 11 am Saturday
– Head it by a commissioner or inspector general
– Include women police officers in the team
– Examine all grievances of the victim’s parents
– Probe two private hospitals’ alleged refusal of treatment
– File a supplementary report within two weeks
– Pause trial proceedings until the report is filed
Why the court stepped in
The girl’s father asked the Court to oversee an investigation by the SIT or the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) because he was unhappy with the Ghaziabad police.
In earlier hearings, the judges expressed strong worries. On April 13th the Court pointed out the Ghaziabad police were hesitant to officially start an investigation (file an FIR). On April 10th they criticized the police for being insensitive, and said two private hospitals wouldn’t treat the badly injured child, who then died at a public hospital.
The details of the case show that on March 16th, a neighbor supposedly attracted the child by saying he was going to buy her chocolate. Her father found her unconscious and covered in blood when she didn’t come home.
Scope and timeline of the SIT probe
The SIT will look at everything the parents are complaining about and will investigate the roles of those two private hospitals. They must then submit an additional report to the court overseeing the trial within fourteen days.
The team must have female officers and be led by someone with the rank of Commissioner or Inspector General. The Court thinks having senior leaders on the team is important for making sure things are done properly and the whole situation is thoroughly reviewed.
Key issues the SIT will examine include:
– Police response to the family’s complaint
– Steps taken during the initial investigation
– Reasons for hospitals allegedly declining admission
– Any lapses affecting the child’s treatment
Status of the case so far
Aishwarya Bhati, representing the police, told the judges that the police had completed their official accusation document (chargesheet) and the trial had begun.
However, the Court is still stopping the trial from continuing until the SIT finishes its extra report and the court overseeing the trial has seen it.
What comes next
The DGP of Uttar Pradesh is required to create and announce the team within the time the Court has given. Once the team is announced, they are expected to start work right away and give their report within two weeks.
For the family, this order means the Court will be keeping an eye on things and specifically looking at the things they are arguing about. For the police and others, it’s a message that they need to deal with the worries about the first investigation and the way the hospitals responded.
The Court is continuing to watch this case very closely. In the next few days we will find out who is on the SIT and what their first actions will be. The trial is likely to continue once the SIT’s report has been given to and looked at by the trial court.
