JK Govt opposes transfer of case outside state; Victim’s family to oppose BCI’s observations today

Srinagar, Apr 26: Kathua rape-and-murder victim’s family is going to oppose the Bar Council of India’s observations supporting its Jammu counterpart’s objections to trial and demand for CBI probe.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Thursday submitted its report in the Supreme Court of India.
In the report, it said that lawyers of Jammu Bar Association (JBA) did not “obstruct justice” in the Kathua rape and murder case and their demand for a CBI investigation into the matter is “justified”.
The Supreme Court had earlier pulled up the Jammu lawyers for obstructing the legal process after the victims lawyers said that she was tried to stop by JBA president and was threatened.
Advocate Deepika S Rajawat, who is appearing for the family of the victim, said they would counter the observations of the BCI before the apex court on Friday.
“We will study the report of the BCI and counter it accordingly,” Rajawat told The Kashmir Monitor over the phone.
“We have to adopt a legal system. We will put facts before the Supreme Court on Friday,” she said.
Advocate M Shoeb Alam, standing counsel for the state of J&K objected, “The affidavit of the High Court contains the report of the District Judge…how can they contend that there has been no obstruction?…the Jammu Bar Association has even made statements about the demographic changes in the state and the infiltration of illegal immigrants.”
However, BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi said that BCI recommended CBI investigation into the Kuthua case was to ensure “justice and fairness in the trail”.
“The BCI found that allegations leveled against JBA false and vindicated the stand of the latter,” he said. “Now the Supreme Court will take the decision,” he said.
The Supreme Court (SC) had asked the Jammu and Kashmir government for its reply by April 27 on whether a plea to transfer the Kathua rape and murder case from the state’s courts to Chandigarh should be allowed.
The apex court also agreed to hear a plea of Kathua rape case accused Sanji Ram for opposing transfer of the case from Jammu.
However, Jammu and Kashmir government has opposed for transferring the case from Kathua to Chandigarh.
The eight-year-old girl was kept captive in a small village temple in Kathua district for a week in January this year. During that week she was kept sedated and sexually assaulted several times before being bludgeoned to death.