SC 'concerned' over 8-months-old's rape, wants child shifted to AIIMS

Acting swiftly, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed two AIIMS doctors to visit an eight-month-old child, who was sexually assaulted by a cousin, to examine her condition to ensure proper care.

"We are concerned about her," a bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said, hearing an urgent plea moved by an advocate, Alakh Alok Srivastava.

"The young child should get all necessary treatment and special care," the bench added as three law officers Additional Solicitor General P S Narasimha, Tushar Mehta and Pinky Anand submitted that the health of the child has to be taken care of.

The court sought assistance of law officers after Srivastava sought compensation for the victim. The petitioner-advocate also cited an apex court's judgement in 'Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association (SCWLA) vs Union of India and Another' (2016) to demand capital punishment for the culprits in such cases.

The court directed two competent doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here to go along with special ambulance to Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, where the victim was being treated and take a decision if she can be shifted to AIIMS to have better care and treatment.

The baby was raped on Sunday by her 28-year-old cousin in northwest Delhi's Netaji Subhash Place, when her parents were away for works. The accused reportedly confessed to raping the baby under the influence of alcohol. Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal expressed her anguish over the incident.