The Patna High Court on Tuesday directed that arrangements be made for shifting a judge’s daughter to Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) hostel after she admitted that “she is not comfortable staying with her parents” and “wanted to get into wedlock”. The court also added that she is allowed to talk to anybody during her stay at the university campus.
The parents of the woman in question had confined her in their residence with an intention to keep her away from her Delhi-based lover, News Central24x7 first reported the matter on June 21, 2018. She was also beaten up by her parents, according to her lover.
The HC bench comprising Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Rajeev Ranjan Prasad ordered that the woman shall be lodged immediately in the guest house of CNLU, Patna for a period of 15 days from today (June 26). The decision was taken after the bench found out from her and Amicus Curiae Anukriti Jaipuriyar that she wanted to stay separately, and has taken this decision on her own without any coercion, pressure or any adverse influence. The 24-year-old lawyer also revealed that she wanted to get into wedlock with her lover and pursue her career.
Following interactions with the woman, the court requested the Sr. Superintendent of Police (SSP), Patna to ensure that a 24 hours’ guard, preferably a lady police officer is present in the premises of the guest house of CNLU, Patna. The parents are allowed to visit the woman in the campus and talk to her subject to her consent whenever they wish, the bench added.
The court will hear the matter next on July 12, 2018. Meanwhile, the woman, who is a CNLU law graduate has been requested to remain in Patna till the next date of hearing, while she is free to move around in the capital city. The Registrar, CNLU, Patna is directed to make arrangement for her transport and visit her daily to ensure her day-to-day well being. She is also allowed to use the phone provided by her parents, at the request of the court and talk to anybody or convey her refusal to meet or talk to anybody through the lady constable/officer during her stay at the guest house.
In its order, the court noted that all expenses for the stay of the woman in the guest house, CNLU, Patna shall be borne by the Law University concerned for the present and further orders in this regard will be passed on the next date.
“Media shall not publish any news item which would have any adverse effect on the reputation and career of the corpus, or her parents or malign the reputation of her family,” the HC bench said.
After Bar & Bench published an article, taking note of the NewsCentral24x7 report, the Patna High Court had taken suo motu cognizance of the matter on Monday and directed the SSP, Patna to produce the woman in the HC Chief Justice’s chambers.
Here is the Patna HC order:
