SC asks for ‘material’ on lawyers’ attempt to block Kathua charge sheet

People hold placards at a protest against the Kathua rape and murder, and the Unnao rape, in New Delhi on Thursday.

People hold placards at a protest against the Kathua rape and murder, and the Unnao rape, in New Delhi on Thursday.   | Photo Credit: Reuters

Chief Justice Misra said the apex court cannot consider the plea in vacuum and would require some material on which it could act on.

The Supreme Court on Friday called for some material to substantiate claims that local lawyers tried to obstruct the filing of charge sheet in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir with the overt intention to derail the police investigation.

A group of Supreme Court lawyers mentioned before the Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra to take suo motu cognisance of the conduct of the lawyers. They said the court should rope in the State Bar Council and the Bar Council of India too.

 

Chief Justice Misra said the apex court cannot consider the plea in vacuum and would require some material on which it could act on.

As local lawyers tried to prevent the police from filing the charge sheet, the Jammu High Court Bar Association had also called for a bandh, and demanded a CBI probe.

Those accused include policemen who are suspected of destroying evidence. A 15-page charge sheet has been filed in this case.

The charge sheet lists as the main conspirator the caretaker of the temple in Rasana where the child, who was a member of the Bakherwal nomadic community, was kept.

She was missing in Rasana village since January 10. On January 17, her mutilated body was found, bearing the marks of gang rape.