Madurai
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered the grant of adequate compensation and police protection to the family of a young woman from Thanjavur, a victim of sexual assault.
A Division Bench of Justices K. K. Sasidharan and P. D. Audikesavalu directed the Collector of Thanjavur to grant a compensation of ₹ two lakh and the Superintendent of Police to provide adequate protection to the family of the victim.
The Thanjavur SP appeared in person as per the orders of the court. The court sought an action taken report from the Thanjavur police and adjourned the hearing to January 31.
The HC had initiated suo motu proceedings after taking cognisance of a letter written by the mother of the woman to the court. The woman said that her daughter, a garment unit worker, was invited to a get-together and subsequently sexually assaulted.
It is alleged that the woman’s daughter was offered a drink which was spiked. She was then assaulted sexually by influential men. Though a complaint was lodged, the police did not take any action against the influential men, the woman alleged. She sought a direction to the Thanjavur police to conduct a proper, fair and impartial investigation in the case.