Chief Justice R Banumathi played a Good Samaritan on Monday when a 12-year girl, studying in a reputed girls’ school, knocked her door with a complaint against her divorcee mother and would-be father.
The girl (name withheld) alongwith her maternal grandparent, a retired bank staff and resident of Ghosh compound in Hindpiri mohalla, in her complaint said that her mother had been granted divorce by the court in September last year and now wanted to tie the knot with a man, whom she befriended through Facebook.
She added that her mother eloped with her “friend” a couple of days back and wanted her also to come along or face the consequences.
“They were forcing her to come along with them but I doubt my would-be father’s intention. He had often tried to sexually abuse me in the past,” she complained.
The Chief Justice, according to sources, immediately ordered the HC legal Services Committee to ensure that she gets proper protection and the culprits are booked and punished. The committee called up Hatia DSP Nisha Murmu, who immediately provided her police protection and deployed a constable at her residence.
The Child Welfare Committee, constituted under Section 29 of Juvenile Justice Act was also sounded and asked to take up the case in a right earnest.
Interestingly, the duo turned up today and tried to cajole the girl to accept them and accompany them to their new home.
The DSP, however, said that the grandparents have not lodged an FIR nor is there any such instruction from the high court in this regard. “So, there is no question of arresting them. We cannot lodge an FIR on the complaint of a minor,” she maintained.
“During interrogation, it appeared that she had a four-year-old affair with a Nepali man whom she befriended through Facebook. The man often visited the family,” she pointed out.
Police sources also said that the police cannot stop them marrying each other if they are adults and solemnising their marriage with mutual consent. Now, the CWC could only take any action regarding the protection of the teenager. CWC Chairman OP Singh said that our mandate is just to give protection and take care of the child up to 18 years.
“The girl alongwith her grandparents will appear before the committee tomorrow and if they both agree to live together we will declare the grandparents to be a fit person and grant them the girl’s custody, Our Child Protection Officer will visit her every three months to know her
status,” he added.