LI Network
Published on: December 17, 2023 at 00:08IST
The Karnataka High Court convened urgently to issue a restraining order on political parties and individuals from visiting a 42-year-old woman in Belgavi who was recently subjected to public beating and stripping after her son eloped with a girl from their village.
Chief Justice PB Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit passed the order swiftly, taking note of a Times Now media report indicating potential visits by representatives of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and a political party.
While acknowledging that hospital visits to victims are not uncommon, the Court expressed concern that such visits could exacerbate the mental health of the traumatized victim undergoing medical treatment.
The court order stated, “Considering the fact that the victim has suffered unbearable trauma and she has been undergoing medical treatment, in our considered opinion, the flow of visitors is likely to affect the health condition of the victim and disturb the ongoing medical treatment.“
In the interest of the victim’s undisturbed medical treatment, the Court directed that no person, including individuals, groups, associations, or political parties, should visit the victim without prior written permission from the medical officer in charge or the treating doctor.
However, the Court clarified that family members, official representatives of statutory authorities/commissions, or investigating agencies are exempt from this restriction.
The incident occurred on December 11, when the victim’s son eloped with a girl whose marriage had been arranged with another man in the same village.
Upon discovering the elopement, the girl’s relatives reportedly tied the 42-year-old woman to a pole, beat her, stripped her, and paraded her in the village. Police intervened after being alerted by a villager.
The High Court took suo motu cognizance of the incident on December 12, and on December 14, it requested an additional status report from the State, noting that the initial report lacked crucial details on psychological counseling and other treatment provided to the victim.
Eleven individuals have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the assault.
Today, the victim was visited by a team from the NHRC and a fact-checking team from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to reports.
