Prashant A Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace
Post Box No. 4050, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009,
Tel. : +91 (079) 66522333, 2745 5913 . Fax : +91 (079) 2748 9018
25th May, 2010
STATEMENT ON THE SENTENCING OF DGP RATHORE
The decision of the Sessions Court to sentence former Haryana DGP S.P.S. Rathore to one and a half years in jail for molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra is definitely not sufficient, but needs to be seen as a significant step in the cause of justice. In some small way, Ruchika and those who are fighting for justice for her seem to be vindicated.
Rathore has always been a very powerful person with high connections everywhere. He definitely thought that he could get away with the molestation of the teenager Ruchika in 1990 which ultimately led to her suicide three years later. The suicide was clearly the result of harassment and even torture for her and other members of her family by Rathore.
The sentence given is in fact too lenient but it should come as a deterrent to police officials all over. The duty of the police is to protect the common man and NOT to victimize him. The Sohrabuddin case in
Civil society and very specially leaders from all walks of life, must come out clearly and loudly to defend the rights of all and very specially to maintain that all are equal in the eyes of the law.
Hopefully, the sentence on Rathore will be further enhanced if he appeals to a
Fr. Cedric Prakash sj
Director, PRASHANT
A Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace
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