[Migrant Woman Raped] Unfortunate That Ladies Coming To TN For Getting Employment Are Becoming Victims Of Sexual Assault: Madras HC [Read Order]

This remark was made by the Madras HC in connection to an unfortunate case, wherein a 22-year-old migrant labourer was gang-raped at Palladam in Tiruppur district.

The Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and P. Velmurugam further directed the Inspector-General of Police (West Zone) to monitor and personally supervise the case with regard to the gang rape of the lady at Palladam and to see that the culprits are appropriately prosecuted.

Not just that, the Bench further directed the Government to give appropriate legal assistance as well as compensation to the victim lady under the Victim Compensation Scheme.

The Division Bench issued the above-said directions, following an application moved by a Counsel practising before the Court, A.P. Suryaprakasam who sought provision of food, shelter, medical aid and monetary compensation to the survivor.

Apart from that, the Bench also noted,

"The migrant labourers are not paid even minimum wages and so they are easily opted by organizations and companies other than local workers."

In this regard, the Bench directed that appropriate steps be taken by the Government to see that the migrant labourers are properly paid.

Mr. G. Karthikeyan, the Assistant Solicitor General sought time to get instructions and file response with regard to the queries raised by this Court.

The matter has been posted for orders.

Notably, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has taken suo moto cognizance of the Hathras gang rape case, stating that is an "extremely sensitive" matter, touching upon the basic human/ fundamental rights of the citizens.

The Bench of Justices Jaspreet Singh and Rajan Roy has issued notices to the State of U.P. through Additional Chief Secretary (Home), the Director-General of Police, U.P., Lucknow, Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, U.P., Lucknow, District Magistrate, Hathras, Superintendent of Police, Hathras, and has asked them to be present before the Court on the next date of hearing, October 12.

Significantly, while hearing a "shocking incident" where a 15-year old girl was brutally murdered by burning, the Jharkhand High Court recently remarked that, "Hathrass is not only in the State of Uttar Pradesh, but also is in the State of Jharkhand,".

The Bench of Justice Ananda Sen was surprised by the manner in which the investigation in such a heinous case had been carried out by the Jharkhand Police.

The facts and circumstances of the case at hand constrained the Judge to compare it with the heinous Hathras Rape Case where also the victim was brutally assaulted and thereafter, as reported by the media, her family was victimized by the 'high-handedness' of the state authorities.