Guv asks for fast-track court in Muzaffarpur case

Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik has asked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for fast-track courts in cases such as the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape incidents.

In a letter to Nitish, as well as in letters to Chief Justice of Patna High Court Rajendra Menon and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, the governor has written that Muzaffarpur incident was "heart-rending" and a "slur on humanity".

Malik has urged the chief justice and the law minister to provide the required support to the state government in the formation of fast-track courts for the quick disposal of cases of exploitation of children and women in different shelter homes and short-stay home in Bihar.

"This will send a positive message that the guilty of such heinous acts will be punished without delay," the governor said.

Last month, at least 34 girls, out of 44 inmates in a shelter home at Muzaffarpur called 'Balika Grih', were found to have been sexually abused.

All the victims were in the age group of 7 to 18. Ten persons, including prime accused Brajesh Thakur, who ran the NGO which looked after the shelter home, have been arrested.

The CBI has taken over the investigation of the case after Nitish gave his approval for a probe by them.

The governor, in his missive to Nitish, has lauded the chief minister for his prompt action but asked him to "develop an institutional mechanism for strict monitoring of such shelter homes".

He also called for the implementation of recommendations made by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).

The Bihar government had roped in TISS for a social audit of such shelter homes earlier this year. It was after the audit that reports of sexual exploitation of girls came to the fore.