The Supreme Court Friday put on hold its order transferring the case of accident, in which the Unnao rape victim was severely injured, from a Lucknow court to Delhi to enable the CBI to complete its investigation.
Before modifying and putting in abeyance its Thursday order, the apex court deferred till August 5 the direction for airlifting the victim from Lucknow hospital to AIIMS, New Delhi, noting that "there appears to be some some hesitation on the part of the family members at this stage".
When the matter came up for hearing in the pre-lunch session, senior advocate V Giri, assisting the court as amicus curiae, told the bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Deepak Gupta that he spoke to the victim's mother, who expressed that her daughter be treated at the Lucknow hospital for the time being.
Giri said he was told that the victim was still unconscious and on ventilator and her family members were of the view that they should take the call of shifting her to AIIMS if it becomes necessary.
He also stated that the victim's lawyer is also in critical stage and his father was indecisive on him being shifted to Delhi.
The woman, allegedly raped by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in 2017 when she was a minor, is battling for life after a truck rammed into the car she was travelling in with some family members and her lawyer. Two of her aunts died in the accident last Sunday.
Taking note of the facts presented, the bench gave liberty to the families of the victim and the lawyer to approach the Supreme Court's secretary general at any point for shifting the to two to AIIMS in Delhi.
"So far as moving the victim and her lawyer out of Lucknow for medical treatment is concerned, as there appears to be some hesitation on the part of the family members at this stage, we defer such movement to await further orders which will be passed on August 5," the bench said.
It further said: "In the event it becomes so necessary, counsel or Amicus Curiae may make a mention of the matter before Justice Deepak Gupta, through the Secretary General of this Court, at any point of time during the week end."
The apex court also directed "all concerned, including the print and electronic media to refrain from disclosing the identity of the victim directly or indirectly and in any manner."