New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to Jammu and Kashmir on a petition filed by the biological father of the minor Kathua rape victim, seeking transfer of trial from Kathua to Chandigarh. Asking the state government to respond to the transfer plea, a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra posted the matter for further hearing on April 27.

As senior counsel Indira Jaising raised the issue of protection to the victim’s family, J&K government counsel M Shoeb Alam said the state had already provided five armed policemen for their security. The Bench said the protection should continue. It asked the state to also provide protection to advocate Deepika Singh Rajawat, who has been extending legal assistance to the family, after Jaising said she was facing grave threats in Kathua where lawyers had allegedly obstructed court proceedings.

She said owing to polarisation in Kathua, a fair trial couldn’t be held there. Therefore, the case should be transferred outside the state. She requested the court to monitor the case.

Vehemently opposing senior advocate Bhim Singh’s plea for a CBI probe, Jaising said the state police had done a “commendable” job. Directing the government to strengthen security at the juvenile home where the juvenile accused in the case was lodged, the CJI said: “We are only concerned with a fair trial, protection of the victim’s family and their lawyers.”

The eight-year-old had disappeared from a village near Kathua on January 10. She was allegedly kidnapped, drugged, raped inside a place of worship and killed.