Mrs.Girija Raghavan v. Mr.Rakesh Srivastava

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED 22.10.2021

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.KARTHIKEYAN [Video Conferencing] Mrs.Girija Raghavan, No.F1, 1st Floor, 5/3, Nagarathinammal Colony Street, West Mambalam, Chennai 33 ... Petitioner

Versus

Mr.Rakesh Srivastava Secretary Ministry of Women and Child Development Government of India Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi 110 001.

... Respondent Prayer : - Contempt petition filed under section 11 of the Contempt of Courts act, 1971 to punish the respondent for wilful disobedience of the order dated 16.10.2015 passed in Crl.OP.[MD].No.11735/2014 by this Court.

For Petitioner :

Mr.K.Elango For Respondent :

Mr.B.Sudhir Kumar Senior Panel Counsel

ORDER

(1) Heard Mr.K.Elango, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.B.Sudhir Kumar, learned Senior Panel Counsel for the respondent,

who was the 3rd respondent in Crl.OP [MD] No.1173/2014. (2) A counter affidavit has been filed by the Under Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child Development at New Delhi and the Officer had, in a very explicit terms, stated that the directions given by this Court in the said Criminal Original Petition, have been complied with.

(3) I have no reason to doubt that such compliance is done with bona fide intention to follow the directions both in letter and in spirit. The counter affidavit is very elaborate and it is deeply appreciated that the respondent has come forward to carry out the directions and ensure that they are also implemented.

(4) As an illustration, I would point out paragraph No.8, wherein it had been stated that the Ministry had requested the State Governments and the Union Territories to take necessary steps to create awareness of the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

(5) It had also been stated that with a view to teach the young minds the concepts of gender parity, individual freedom and ethics and to help them to grow into a responsible adults, NCERT has been requested to publish Child Help Line Number [1098] and the POCSO e-Box and

such other steps.

(6) These are all to be appreciated and I am confident that follow up action would also be taken by the Ministry as was expected by the learned Judge while passing the order in Crl.OP.[MD] No.11735/2014.

(7) A copy of the counter affidavit may be annexed with this order for better illustration of the steps taken by the Government pursuant to the directions issued by this Court.

(8) With the said observations, the Contempt Petition stands closed. SD/- ASSISTANT REGISTRAR(COMM.CASES) ap //Certified to be true copy// Dated at Madras this the day of 2022. COURT OFFICER(O.S.) from 25th day of September 2008 the Registry is issuing Certified copies of the Orders/Judgments/Decrees in this format.

GS/29/12/2021 To The Secretary Ministry of Women and Child Development Government of India Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi 110 001.

(Encl.: Xerox Copy of Counter Affidavit with this order)