Supreme Court Seeks Uttarakhand’s Response on Nurse’s Death and Assault Case
New Delhi, India – The Supreme Court of India has asked the Uttarakhand government to respond to a plea for an independent investigation into the death and sexual assault of a nurse. The plea also seeks compensation for the victim’s family.
A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, along with justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra, issued a notice to the state government. The petition was filed by the nurse’s daughter through her maternal grandfather and aunt, with the help of Maulana Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind.
Senior Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, representing the petitioner, criticized the police investigation as unprofessional. She noted that the police delayed action for a week after the nurse was reported missing, only acting after public protests. A suspect was eventually arrested.
The nurse, who worked in a hospital in Rudrapur, was reported missing on July 30, 2024. Her sister filed a missing report the next day. On August 8, 2024, the family was informed that a decomposed body had been found near their home. The body was identified by the clothes as the face was unrecognizable.
The petition highlighted that an FIR was only registered on August 14, six days after the body was found, raising questions about the police’s conduct. The petitioner called for a centralized alert system for missing women and an independent inquiry supervised by a retired judge. They also sought compensation under the Uttarakhand Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/Other Crimes, 2022.
Maulana Arshad Madani welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to issue a notice to the Uttarakhand government. He expressed regret that the family had to approach the court for justice and questioned whether justice is now only available based on religious grounds. He hoped that justice would be served in this case.
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important decisions about laws and justice.
Uttarakhand -: Uttarakhand is a state in northern India. It is known for its beautiful mountains and temples.
Nurse’s Death and Assault Case -: This refers to a sad event where a nurse was hurt and died. People are asking for a proper investigation to find out what happened.
Plea -: A plea is a request made to a court asking for something, like an investigation or help.
Independent Investigation -: An independent investigation means looking into something without any bias or influence from others, to find the truth.
Compensation -: Compensation is money given to someone to help them after they have been hurt or suffered a loss.
Maulana Arshad Madani -: Maulana Arshad Madani is a respected religious leader in India. He helps people with their problems and fights for justice.
Centralized Alert System -: A centralized alert system is a way to quickly share important information, like when someone is missing, so everyone can help find them.
Petition -: A petition is a formal request signed by many people asking for a change or action, like a new law or investigation.
