Gangrape survivor fee PIL: Indore collector files reply, state govt seeks time

Bhopal/Jabalpur: The Indore collector filed an affidavit before the division bench of MP high court in connection with a suo motu petition taken up by the chief justice Ravi Malimath based on a TOI report concerning a minor gangrape survivor, who was left in the lurch for school fee by the state govt, which had promised to provide her free education. The additional advocate general, who appeared in the case on behalf of the state govt, sought more time to file a reply, making the court defer hearing of the case to Feb 15 after taking the affidavit of collector Indore on record. However, in the previous hearing on Friday, the court had taken exception to the state govt seeking more time to file a reply in the petition with the judges observing how the govt could seek more time and gave it a final chance to file the reply on Monday, the next date of hearing. The HC division bench said in its Friday’s order, “When the matter was listed yesterday, time was sought for by the state to file the affidavit. Today, once again time is being sought to file the affidavit. We fail to understand how the state can make such a request again and again even though it is a PIL. As a last chance, call on 12.02.2024.”In a brief order following hearing of the case on Monday, the court said, “The affidavit of the collector Indore is filed in the court today. The same is taken on record. The additional advocate general seeks time to file his reply to the petition. Call on 15.02.2024.”On Feb 1, the bench took note of the TOI report of the same day and issued notices to the state chief secretary, principal secretary-school education, Indore collector and the school, observing, “It’s a rather shocking state of affairs.” The HC ordered that the TOI report be turned into a PIL.TNN