1

                                                            REPORTABLE

 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

 CRIMINAL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION       

WRIT PETITION (CRIMINAL) NO. 296 OF 2020

Satyama Dubey & Ors.            .…  Petitioner(s)

Versus

Union of India & Ors.                …. Respondent(s)

WITH

Writ Petition (Crl) No.304/2020, 

Writ Petition (Crl) No.308/2020,

Writ Petition (Crl) No.314/2020,

AND

Writ Petition (Crl) No.316/2020

J U D G M E N T

1.The petitioners and all the intervening applicants in

these   matters   have   raised   concern   with   regard   to   the

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

2

manner in which a 19 years old girl hailing from Hathras,

Uttar   Pradesh   is   alleged   to   have   been   raped,   brutally

assaulted;   due   to   which   she   lost   her   life   and   also   the

manner in which she was cremated. The Writ Petition (Crl)

No.296/2020 was initially taken on board by this Court and

notice was ordered to the respondents returnable in a week.

In   the   meanwhile,   the   remaining   petitions   and   the

applications were filed in respect of the same incident to

seek for varied reliefs which are all ultimately in pursuit of a

fair investigation and bring to justice the culprits.  

2.The details of the other applications and writ petitions

are as follows:

Petition/Intervenin

g Applications

Applicant/Petitioner Prayers

Cr. M.P. No. 10597

of 2020

Ramu alias Ram KumarIntervention Application

seeking indulgence of Court

for ordering CBI investigation

or formation of SIT to

investigate the matter under a

sitting or retired Justice of SC

or HC. Further, transfer of trial

to Delhi is prayed for.

I.A. No. 101799 of

2020

All India Women

Conference (NGO)

through its General

Secretary Ms. Kuljeet

Kaur

Prayer for impleadment as

necessary party in the array of

petitioners

Crl. M.P. No. 102148

of 2020

Citizens for Justice and

Peace through

Secretary

Seeking intervention and

directions for:

1.Transfer of the

investigation to CBI

2.Protection of witnesses

by central para military

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

3

forces

3.Appointment of a retired

Judge of SC to

investigate the

circumstances which led

to the cremation of the

victim.

Crl. M.P. No. 105463

of 2020

Radhika Vemula & Ors. Praying for following

directions:

1.Transfer of all connected

cases of gang-rape and

death from U.P. to Delhi

Special Court

2.Constitution of SIT for

investigation into the

gang-rape and death

tragedy in order to avert

political interference

3.Restraining the

respondents from

conducting polygraph

test, narco-analysis or

brain mapping on the

victim’s family

4.Protection to victim’s

family and other

witnesses.

5.Directing respondents to

strictly implement SC &

ST (Prevention of

Atrocities) Act, 1989

I.A. No. 103488 of

2020

By Members of Delhi

High Court and

Supreme Court Bar

Association

Seeking orders for:

1.Constitution of SIT to

investigate the gang-

rape and murder case

under the Court’s own

monitoring

2.Providing adequate

protection to the

witnesses

3.Transfer of trial from U.P.

to SC/ST Special Court

in Delhi subject to

consent from the victim’s

family

4.Appointment of a Senior

Advocate as special

prosecutor u/s 15 of the

SC/ST Act, 1989

I.A. No. 106081 of

2020

Satendra Kumar Application seeking

impleadment as respondent in

WP (Crl.) No. 296 of 2020 or

in the alternative seeking

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

4

permission to intervene in the

said matter.

Diary No.

55441/2020, etc.

Letter petitions received

through E-Mail by

citizens

For Appropriate directions

being sought for by SC in the

gang-rape and murder case

D.No. 54893/2020,

etc.

Letter petitions received

through e-mail/by post

For Appropriate directions

being sought for by SC in the

gang-rape and murder case

IA No. 105728 of

2020

Applicant/Shobha

Gupta

Intervention Application

seeking permission to

intervene to make appropriate

submissions and suggestions

as the matter is of extreme

importance.

Crl MP No. 105362

of 2020

Applicant/Rashtriya

Dalit Bachao Andolan

Through its President

O.P Shukla and Others

Application for

Impleadment as he

himself belongs to the

SC community and

direction to R to ensure

dignified cremation of all

the victims of crime and

no discrimination to be

made toward SC, ST,

OBC

Direction for

investigation against the

officials who were

responsible for

cremation and illegal

detention of the family

members to be

monitored by this

Hon’ble Court.

Crl MP No. 105458

and 105460 of 2020

Applicant/Radhika

Vermula and Others

Application for

Impleadment for

upholding the rights of

the SC and ST

community and that of

society at large

seeking CBI and SIT

probe into the case as

the impartial

investigation was being

conducted by the UP

police.

Crl MP No. 105452

of 2020

Applicant/Munnoka

Samudaya

Samrakshana Munnani

through its President

Application for intervention

seeking an investigation in the

case against the accused and

into the alleged lapses in the

administration into the case.

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

5

WP(Crl) No. 304 of

2020

Chandra Bhan Singh

vs State of UP and

Others

Connected: WP(Crl)

No. 308 of 2020

Sushma Motilal

Maurya vs State of

UP and Others

Petitioner/Chandra

Bhan Singh

Connected: Petitioner/

Sushma Motilal Maurya

Prayer for;

1.Mandamus for

investigation of the role

of R3-R7 for mishandling

of body of the victim

2.Direction to the

Investigating agency to

get statement of the

Mother, father and

brother of the victim

before the magistrate

and if the allegation

made by the family are

true to register FIR

against the guilty.

Connected: Direction to take

cognizance, constitution of the

HC monitored Investigation,

inquiry and suspension of the

erring police, medical etc

trying to manipulate the

evidence, charges to be

framed against police who

were responsible for

cremation of the Victim.

WP (Crl) No. 314 of

2020 Public mail

through its publisher

vs Union of India

and Others

Petitioner/ Public mail

through its publisher

Praying for following

directions:

1.Mandamus to R to fix

the responsibilities of the

Police officials who burnt

the girl in midnight and

to punish them

2.Transfer the case to

Delhi from Hathras

3.Direction to R to make

special forum or frame

guidelines for such rape

in future.

WP (Crl) No. 316 of

2020 Chetan

Janardhan Kamble

Vs Union of India

and Others

Petitioner/ Chetan

Janardhan Kamble

Petition seeking direction to:

1.Register offence u/s

166-A, 193 ,201, 202,

203, 212, 217,153A and

339 of the IPC and 3(2)

and 4 of the SC and ST

Act 1989 against Govt

officials involved in

destruction of evidence

2.Investigation by Special

Task Force (excluding

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

6

CBI and UP police

3.Deposit all the evidence

including videos

collected at the

Safdarjung hospital for

examination by

independent forensic lab

4.Direction granting

protection by CRPF to

the witnesses and

members of the family of

victim pending

investigation.

3.For a brief narration shorn of unnecessary details and

to note the nature of the relief sought, the petition in W.P.

(Crl.)  No.296/2020  is  referred. In the  Writ  Petition filed

under Article 32 of the Constitution of India the petitioners

are   praying   that   the   Union   of   India   and   concerned

authorities be ordered to conduct a fair investigation; if need

arise  by transferring  the  case  to the   Central  Bureau  of

Investigation (‘CBI’ for short) or SIT be formed to investigate

the   matter.   It   is   also   prayed   that   a   sitting   or   retired

Supreme Court Judge or High Court Judge be appointed to

look into the matter. The petitioners have further prayed

that the case be transferred from Hathras, Uttar Pradesh to

Delhi. 

4.The   case   as   put   forth   is   that   a   19­year­old   girl,

resident of Hathras village in Uttar Pradesh was brutally

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

7

gang­raped. The  manner in which she was assaulted is

referred   to   in   the   petition.   Though   she   was   shifted   to

Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, she breathed her last and she

was   cremated   in   the   middle   of   the   night   without   the

presence of her family members. Considering the manner in

which the entire incident had taken place, the petitioners

contended that a fair investigation would be possible only if

the matter is entrusted to an independent agency. 

5.The   pleadings   in   the   other   writ   petitions   and   the

intervention applications are relating to the same incident

though different reliefs have been sought, which in any

event is to secure fair investigation and punish the guilty in

accordance with law. 

6.At the outset, when the first of the petition was taken

up by this Court on 16.10.2020, Mr. Tushar Mehta, learned

Solicitor   General   had   fairly   submitted   that   the   instant

petition would not be considered as an adversarial litigation

and   the   respondents   are   also   interested   that   a   fair

investigation be conducted and the offenders be brought to

book. At that stage, it was noticed that the Allahabad High

Court, Lucknow Bench having taken note of the incident

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

8

had passed a detailed order dated 01.10.2020 and ordered

registration   of   the  suo   moto  petition   being

PIL(C)No.16150/2020. In that circumstance this Court was

of the  prima facie  view that the petitions filed before this

Court   need   not   be   entertained   at   this   stage   since   the

jurisdictional High Court was seized of the matter. However,

Ms. Indira Jaising, learned Senior Counsel while intervening

on behalf of the intervening advocates had raised concern

with regard to the adequate protection being provided to the

victim’s family members and the witnesses. Having found

that such concern raised needs to be addressed, the learned

Solicitor General was requested to secure instructions on

these aspects and file an appropriate affidavit. 

7.Pursuant thereto, an affidavit dated 14.10.2020 sworn

to   by   the   Special   Secretary,   Home   Department,   Uttar

Pradesh is filed, wherein the details of the security provided

is indicated. In that regard it is stated that the parents, two

brothers, one sister­in­law and grandmother of the victim

who are residing at village Chandpa, District Hathras, Uttar

Pradesh have been provided protection under a three­fold

protection   mechanism   through   (a)   Armed   Constabulary

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

9

Component, (b) Civil Police Component and (c) Installation

of   CCTV   cameras/lights.   The   details   of   each   of   the

component is also stated in the affidavit and it is further

stated   that   the   Inspector   (In­charge)   of   Police   Station

Chandpa has been made In­charge of the aforesaid entire

arrangement to deploy suitable police force for the same.

The Circle Officer, Sadabad is to ensure robust security

arrangement by holding regular clear briefings to the police

force and to inform the family members about the security

arrangements provided to them. The affidavit also states

that on enquiry from the family members of the victim it is

learnt that they have engaged Ms. Seema Kushwaha and

Mr. Raj Ratan, Advocates on behalf of the family as their

private advocates. 

8.The affidavit also indicates that the investigation by

the CBI would be conducted under the supervision of the

Court in a time bound manner. The Director General of

Police, State of Uttar Pradesh has also filed an affidavit

indicating   that   the   State   Government   itself   has   sought

investigation   by   the   CBI   to   be   conducted   under   the

supervision   of   the   Court   and   on   10.10.2020   the   CBI

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

10

accepted   the   request   of   the   State   and   has   started

investigation in respect of the crime, on 11.10.2020. The

orders  dated  01.10.2020  and   12.10.2020  passed  by  the

High Court  and  the fact that  the High Court has  been

apprised that the investigation by the CBI was in progress is

stated therein. 

9.In   addition   to   hearing   Mr.   Tushar   Mehta,   learned

Solicitor General who appeared for the State, Mr. Harish

Salve, learned Senior Counsel for DGP and Smt. Seema

Kushwaha on behalf of the family members of the victim as

also the other learned counsel lead by Ms. Indira Jaising,

Mr. Colin Gonsalves, learned Senior Counsel who raised

concern on behalf of the victim’s family in the various writ

petitions   and   applications,   we   have   taken   note   of   the

submission made by Mr. Sidharth Luthra, learned senior

counsel who sought to appear on behalf of the accused to

contend that the legal right available to the accused ought

not to be ignored in the process. 

10.Though   various   contentions   were   urged,   the

undisputed fact is that the investigation has in fact been

entrusted by the State Government itself to the CBI on

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

11

10.10.2020 and the CBI has started investigation in respect

of the crime on 11.10.2020. Therefore, the apprehensions

expressed by the petitioners/applicants that there would be

no   proper   investigation   if   the   Uttar   Pradesh   Police

conducted   the   same   would   not   remain   open   for

consideration at this stage and the grievance to that extent

stands redressed. Though the petitioners had sought and

the   respondent­State   also   through   their   affidavit   had

indicated that this Court can monitor the same, as already

referred   to   above,   a   PIL(C)No.16150/2020   has   been

registered in the Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench,

suo moto pursuant to its order dated 01.10.2020. From the

order passed by the High Court it is noticed that the High

Court has adequately delved into the aspects relating to the

case to secure fair investigation and has also secured the

presence of the father, mother, brother and sister­in­law of

the   victim   and   appropriate   orders   are   being   passed,

including securing reports from various quarters. In that

circumstance, we do not find it necessary to divest the High

Court   of   the   proceedings   and   take   upon   this   Court   to

monitor   the   proceedings/investigation.   That   apart,   the

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

12

incident having occurred within the jurisdiction of that High

Court   and   all   particulars   being   available,   it   would   be

appropriate for the High Court to proceed to monitor the

investigation in the manner in which it would desire. In that

view, it would be open for the writ petitioners/applicants

herein to seek to intervene in the matter before the High

Court subject to consideration of such request by the High

Court and if it finds the need to take into consideration the

contentions to be urged by the petitioners/applicants in

that regard. 

11.Insofar as the protection to the victim’s family and the

witnesses, the limited purpose for which this Court had

directed notice and sought for an affidavit; the affidavit as

filed   no   doubt   indicates   that   sufficient   steps   have   been

taken by the State Government to provide protection. Ms.

Indira   Jaising,   learned   Senior   Counsel   would   however,

contend that the protection as provided through the State

Police would not be appropriate and as such the protection

be directed to be provided by the Central Reserve Police

Force (CRPF). It is further contended by her that a Special

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

13

Public   Prosecutor   be   appointed   and   the   monitoring   be

made.

12.  Having   taken   note   of   the   contentions   and   having

perused the affidavit filed on behalf of the State Government

we are convinced that steps have been taken by the State

Government to make adequate arrangement for security to

the victim’s family and witnesses. However, in a matter of

the present nature it is necessary to address the normal

perception and pessimism which cannot be said as being

without  justification.    In that  view,  without  casting  any

aspersions on the security personnel of the State Police; in

order to allay all apprehensions and only as a confidence

building measure, we find it appropriate to direct that the

security to the victim’s family and the witnesses shall be

provided by the CRPF within a week from today.

13.On the aspect relating to the investigation, since we

have indicated that the High Court would look into that

aspect of the matter, the CBI shall report to the High Court

in the manner as would be directed by the High Court

through its orders from time to time. On the request of Ms.

Indira Jaising, learned senior counsel for appointment of a

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

14

Special   Public   Prosecutor   we   see   no   need   to   pass   any

specific order. This is an aspect which could be considered

by the High Court in the  light  of  the provisions of the

Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of

Atrocities)   Act,   1989.   In   the   circumstance   wherein   the

family members of the victim have chosen to engage Ms.

Seema Kushwaha and Mr. Raj Ratan, Advocates, they would

consider these aspects and make request on behalf of the

victim in accordance with law if such need arises. 

14.Therefore,   without   expressing   any   opinion   on   the

merits of the rival contentions, all aspects of the matter are

left  open   to  be   considered   by   the  High  Court   in  PIL(C)

No.16150/2020 relating to the incident regarding which the

investigation is to be conducted by the CBI and also with

regard to the grievance put forth alleging illegal cremation.

With regard to the protection to the victim’s family and

witnesses, the respondent No.2 (Chief Secretary, State of

U.P) in WP(Crl) No.296/2020 shall bring this order to the

notice of the competent officer of the CRPF forthwith with a

request to provide adequate security to the victim’s family

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

15

and the witnesses and the CRPF shall take steps to provide

the same and shall report the same to the High Court.

15.Insofar as the transfer of the case to Delhi as sought

by   the   petitioners/applicants,   Ms.   Seema   Kushwaha,

learned counsel for the victim’s family indicated that the

need   for   transfer   would   arise   after   the   investigation   is

complete.   On this aspect we are also of the view that it

would be appropriate for investigating agency to complete

the investigation and in any event since the local police have

been divested of the investigation and the CBI is carrying

out   the   investigation   there   would   be   no   room   for

apprehensions   at   this   stage.     However,   the   issue   as   to

whether the trial of the case is to be transferred is a matter

which is kept open to be considered if need arises in future.

16.Before parting, we take note of the submission of the

learned Solicitor General about the name and relationship of

the family members with the victim being depicted in the

face of the order dated 12.10.2020 passed by the High Court

in PIL(C) No.16150/2020.  Since it is a requirement of law

to avoid such disclosure, the High Court is requested to

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.

16

delete the same and also morph the same in the digital

records and avoid indication of such contents in future. 

17.In terms of the above observations and directions, the

writ petitions and applications stand disposed of.  No costs.

..…………....................CJI.

      (S. A. Bobde)

…..…………....................J.

(A.S. Bopanna)

..…..………......................J

      (V. Ramasubramanian)

October 27, 2020

NEW DELHI

WP (Crl) No.296/2020 etc.