Supreme Court Flags Harassment of Minor Protester, Seeks Reports from Delhi and UP
Supreme Court takes serious view of alleged harassment of a 14-year-old CJP protester, seeks action on her FIR and reports from Delhi and UP governments.
The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed serious concern over allegations that a 14-year-old girl who took part in the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests in July was being harassed to deter her from pursuing criminal proceedings. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, said such matters cannot be treated lightly and that no one can be permitted to browbeat a child victim or her family.
The girl's counsel told the court that she was harassed and her house was vandalised after she filed an FIR against right-wing influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj. Bhardwaj had claimed in a video that he attacked her father during the CJP protest. The lawyer said that instead of prosecuting those accompanying the accused, who were allegedly caught on camera, an FIR was registered against the child — a step the counsel argued was contrary to an earlier Supreme Court order. Video of stone-pelting at the girl's residence can be placed on record, the lawyer added.
The counsel also cautioned that a high-powered committee looking into the matter would take time, and any harm to the child in the interim could not be reversed or repaired later. Responding to the submissions, the CJI observed that if anti-social elements who indulged in violence against a child are roaming free and trying to intimidate her, it would be a serious matter.
The bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure action on the girl's FIR and sought a report from the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments on the issue.
Earlier, on September 5, Delhi Police had added provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR against Bhardwaj over the alleged assault on the minor activist's father during the CJP-led protests. Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr after the CJP staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station demanding his arrest over the alleged assault. The action followed outrage over an interview in which he claimed he had "cracked the skull" of the minor activist's father during the July 20 protest and escaped arrest because of his political connections.