Mitali Palnitkar
Published On: February 14, 2022 at 17:40 IST
On February 14, a Notice was issued by the Supreme Court on Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Director General of Police (DGP), Tamil Nadu against the Madras High Court Order, which transferred the Investigation to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Case relating to suicide of a girl in Thanjavur.
The Bench comprised of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Bela M Trivedi. Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani represented the girl’s father and Senior Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan represented the congregation.
The Court refused to interject in Investigation of CBI and stated that the Probe by CBI will be continued. The High Court ordered CBI Probe in the matter when the local police ruled out Allegations that reason behind the suicide was attempt to religious conversion.
A Notice was issued by the Bench in connection with Special Leave Petition challenging the High Court Order, filed by the congregation ‘The Immaculate Heart of Mary Society’, which runs the Missionary school in which the girl studied.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Tamil Nadu DGP was asked by the Bench whether the Police were aggrieved by both adverse observations and final directions. Rohatgi replied that the Police had been aggrieved with respect to both the aspects.
Senior Advocate P Wilson appearing for State of Tamil Nadu stated that by Ordering CBI Probe, the Single Bench had overstepped Jurisdiction as it had the Jurisdiction only to deal with State Police Investigation. He stated, “We were taken by surprise when during the hearing CBI Investigation was sought. There were no Pleadings.”
The Bench stated that a Notice on the Petition will be issued but the CBI Investigation will continue.
The High Court had Ordered CBI Probe after a critical view on local police’s stand that there was no basis for Allegations that suicide was a result of forced attempts of conversion to Christianity.
The DGP argued that there were no circumstances warranting transfer of Investigation and sought a Stay on Order passed by Justice GR Swaminathan. He also sought expunction of adverse remarks made against State Police Probe by High Court.
The girl died on January 19 following an attempt to suicide. Few video clips of her were on social media in which she Allegedly stated about forcible conversion attempts.
The Madras High Court, in its January 31 Judgment, criticized Tamil Nadu Police for ruling out the angle of forced attempts of religious conversion.