Patna High Court came down heavily on the Bihar government on Monday and asked why no FIR was registered despite serious allegations by a woman that she and others residing at Uttar Raksha Grih (after-care home) in Patna were sedated and abused.

The court sought to know the action taken by the state government so far and decided to hear the case on February 11. It has also directed the woman to appear before it on the date.

Appearing on behalf of the state government, advocate-general Lalit Kishore said an FIR has not been registered because the social welfare department, which runs the home, is conducting a probe.

The bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S. Kumar had taken suo motu cognisance on February 2 based on reports about the victim alleging sexual abuse, torture, immoral activities, mysterious disappearances of girls, and murder in the facility for girls and young adult women.

The girl was working as a maid in a locality in Patna after being released from the home around three months ago. She approached Mahila Vikas Sangh, a civil society organisation working for women, on January 29 to seek work. She broke down in front of MVS members during counselling and narrated her ordeal during her seven-month stay at the home.

The organisation took her to the women’s police station twice since then to lodge an FIR, but it was not registered. Seeking justice, the MVS members and the victim talked to journalists earlier this week.

Witnesses

New Delhi: The trial courts across the country will endeavour to complete the examination of private witnesses on the same day as far as possible, the Supreme Court has said while taking judicial note that cross-examination of such witnesses is adjourned without any reason at the “drop of a hat”.

The apex court said it is constrained to record its anguish on the deliberate attempt to derail the “quest for justice”. “Long adjournments are being given after the completion of the chief examination, which only helps the defence to win them over at times, with the passage of time,” the apex court said. PTI