Deccan
Chronicle / Chennai, Saturday, 17 January 2015
SC
urged to appoint retd judge for investigation
J. Venkatesan / DC
New Delhi, Jan. 16
The Centre on
Friday urged the Supreme Court to order a fair probe by a retired high court
judge into the allegations of sexual harassment of women and children in
Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry.
The allegations,
through a number of complaints by the inmates of the ashram and local MLA,
include misappropriation of ashram funds, illegal sale and lease of ashram
properties for personal gain by the managing trustees of Aurobindo Ashram
Trust.
Attorney General
Rohatgi, appearing for the Centre, told a bench of the Chief Justice H.L. Dattu
and Justice A.K. Sikrit that the centre had filed its reply to the notice on a
writ petition filed by Dr. Gayatri Satapathy and others seeking a probe into
various allegations.
The petitioners
alleged that the acts of omissions and commissions of the trustees of the
ashram had resulted in sexual harassment of women who were associated with the
trust either as inmates or otherwise; against minor inmates; medical negligence
in providing hospital facilities; and denial of food, shelter, medical support
and other basic facilities to the inmates.
They alleged that
the Union of India and the Puducherry government, though had an obligation, had
failed to intervene in the abysmal state of affairs in the ashram and the
serious plight of the inmates. They wanted the Centre to frame an appropriate
law to impart transparency and accountability into the administration of the
ashram and till such time the law was enacted, to administer the affairs of the
ashram.
They also sought a
proper enquiry into the various allegations against the trustees.
The bench took on
record the Centre’s reply and posted the matter for further hearing on January
27.
