Ensure safety of women on court premises: Delhi HC

NEW DELHI Concerned over the alleged rape of a female lawyer by her senior colleague in his chamber at the Saket district court, the Delhi high court on Monday took stock of women’s safety in courts in the capital.
The administrative committee of HC, led by Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal, met in the morning to discuss the matter and issue orders in the wake of the arrest of a lawyer on rape charges at the Saket courts premises.
Justice Mittal held a meeting with district judges and directed them to ensure the safety of women on court premises. She called a meeting of the administrative committee, which was also attended by district and sessions judges from Saket court complex, registrar general and registrar (vigilance) of the HC and other stake holders, sources said.
Saket Courts District Judges Asha Menon and Girish Kathpalia briefed Justice Mittal on the situation after the rape case. The woman lawyer’s statement had been recorded and the accused arrested.
Adequate lighting, CCTV camera coverage and steps needed to prevent misuse of lawyers’ chambers were some of the issues that cropped up during the discussion, it is learnt.
According to police, the woman said in her statement that the accused, who was in an inebriated condition, had sexually assaulted her in his chamber on July 14. She had informed police about the incident on the intervening night of July 14 and 15.
Police had registered a case of rape and the accused lawyer, who is in his 50s, was arrested from south Delhi’s Sangam Vihar and produced before the Saket court.