Kochi: The Kerala government on Monday filed an appeal in the division bench of the High Court against a single bench verdict, which ordered the State to pay Rs1.5 lakh compensation to an eight-year-old girl and her father, who were publicly humiliated by a woman police official.
Following several rounds of hearing, single bench judge Justice Devan Ramachandran directed the government to pay compensation to the girl for the misconduct of Pink Police official Rejitha towards her.
Delivering the judgement, Ramachandran said, "We cannot let our daughters grow up in anger. Hence, immediate remedial steps must be taken. No one can dispute that her fundamental rights under Article 21 to lead a dignified life were violated."
Meanwhile, Jayachandran, the father of the girl, said that if the State government agrees to pay the compensation as directed by the single bench, he will donate part of it for empowering 'adivasi' (tribal) children and another portion to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).
However, following the government's decision to file an appeal, Jayachandran has said it is the State that is hurting them now.
'No action taken despite several pleas'
In her petition, the girl said that despite several pleas, no action was taken against the woman police official. Therefore they moved the court to seek justice. Once the trial began, her family testified that they rejected the erring official's unconditional apology as they failed to get justice from any quarter.
Humiliation and months of inaction
The incident occurred on August 27, 2021, when 38-year-old Jayachandran and his daughter were outside their house, situated near Attingal, to watch a huge trailer carrying equipment to the ISRO unit. Suddenly Rejitha found her mobile phone missing and accused Jayachandran, who was standing near the police patrol vehicle, of stealing it. She said that he must have given the mobile to his eight-year-old daughter, who she assumed was his accomplice. Rejitha publicly humiliated the father and daughter and threatened to take both of them to the nearby police station. The entire scene was witnessed by a large crowd.
Later, Rejitha found the mobile phone in the vehicle. The entire sequence of events was filmed by an onlooker, who shared it on social media.
On August 31, Jayachandran approached State Police Chief Anil Kant, seeking action against Rejitha as his daughter was in a state of shock after the incident.
Promising action, Kant asked South Zone IG Harshita Attaluri to conduct a probe, following which Rejitha was transferred.
However, Rejitha was transferred to a more convenient location and no action was taken against her.
Seeing no further action being taken in the case, the family, on September, observed a day-long protest before the Secretariat calling out the State's inaction on the incident. When all else failed, the family decided to approach the High Court.
