Chinmayanand Case : SC Disposes Of Suo Moto Proceedings With Directions For Transfer Of Colleges Of LLM Student And Her Brother [Read Order]

The State of UP informed Supreme Court today that, as per its directions on Sept 2, arrangements have been made to transfer "Ms. A", the LLM student who levelled sexual harrassment allegations against BJP's Swami Chinmayanand, to another college to pursue her degree. Accomodation in the college's hostel will be available, and arrangements for her brother to be shifted to another college as well have been made, appraised ASG Vikramjit Banerjee on behalf of the UP government.

The ASG however informed that there was a practical difficulty as there were no seats available in the new colleges to which the student and her brother were proposed to be transferred.

Taking note of this, the bench comprising of Justices Banumathi and Bopanna directed the Bar Council of India to increase the sanctioned strength of the respective colleges to accomodate the 'Miss A' and her brother, as an "exceptional case". The University was directed to issue required certificates to ensure that they can resume their studies at the earliest.  

The LLM student and her brother were earlier studying in a college run by a management headed by Swami Chinmayanand.

The bench refused to meet the woman again and categorically stated that the case was taken up suo moto as the she was missing then, and now that she has been traced, they weren't inclined to hear anything further. "She can tell the SIT whatever she wishes to", Justice Banumathi orally remarked. Today's hearing was only to ensure that her education would not be hampered, the bench affirmed.

Further, Advocate Shobha Gupta informed the court that the student did not wish to stay on in the hostel in Delhi any longer. The apex court granted her liberty, along with her parents, to go back to Shahjahanpur with Delhi police providing security. For any other security related concerns, the apex court said, they may approach the Allahabad High court, which is to monitor the investigation.

Earlier, on Sept 2, after speaking to the LLM student, Supreme Court had directed the Yogi Adityanath government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the sexual harassment allegations levelled against Swami Chinmayanand. The SIT was to be headed by an Inspector General (IGP) ranked official, and assisted by the superintendent of police (SP), while a bench of the Allahabad High Court is to monitor the same.

This is after the apex court took suo moto cognizance of the matter when the student went missing for 5 days after making allegations against the BJP leader. She was found in Rajasthan by UP police minutes before the court was to take up the case on August 30. The bench had ordered the officials to bring her to Delhi and met with her to ascertain she was safe. She had been lodged in a hostel in Delhi for 4 days, upon court orders, and her parents were brought by the police to be with her.

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