Bihar governor for fast-track courts to deal with sexual abuse cases

PATNA: Governor Satya Pal Malik has written letters to CM Nitish Kumar, Chief Justice Rajendra Menon of the Patna high court and Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad regarding the “heart-rending” sexual and physical abuse of minor girls at the state-funded Muzaffarpur shelter home (balika grih).

In his letter to CM on Wednesday, Malik suggested the formation of fast-track courts for timely disposal of cases related to physical, mental and sexual harassment of minor boys, girls and women in short stay homes in the state. Raj Bhavan sources said the governor wrote to HC Chief Justice and Union law minister for providing the required support to the state government in the formation of fast-track courts.

In his second letter to the CM, Malik suggested regular monitoring and social audit of all shelter and children homes by competent organizations.

Malik termed the alleged sexual and physical abuse of minor girls at Muzaffarpur children home run by Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti as “heart-rending” and “infamy for humanity”.

The governor, however, lauded Nitish and the state government for prompt action and recommending a CBI probe into the case. In his letter, Malik also called CM Nitish an “able administrator, popular politician and a sensitive and proactive person” and suggested him to develop “an institutional mechanism” for strict monitoring of such homes and taking feedback from intelligentsia.

Malik said the state government should take action as per the suggestions made in the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) social audit report on the 110 shelter homes for minor boys, girls and deserted women across the state.

The Muzaffarpur case was highlighted by Koshish Team of TISS in its report submitted to the state social welfare department on April 26 this year. The medical reports suggested the rape of 34 minor girls who were living at the Muzaffarpur balika grih.

The governor hoped the state government would “positively consider” his suggestions and initiate necessary steps for “security, safety and quality life” of inmates of such homes.