Madras HC orders all-woman SIT probe into university sexual assault

Tells Tamil Nadu government to pay ₹25 lakh as interim compensation to survivor

- R SIVAKUMAR @Chennai

THE Madras High Court on Saturday ordered the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) comprising three women IPS officers to probe the rape of an engineering student on the Anna University campus and the leakage/disclosure of the FIR and its contents.

However, the court declined to order a CBI probe as sought by the petitioners.

A division bench of Justices SM Subramaniam and V Lakshminarayanan, sitting in a special session, passed the orders while disposing of two public interest litigation (PIL) petitions filed by advocate R Varalakshmi (AIADMK) and A Mohandas (BJP).

"This court found several lapses both on the part of the police officials and the Anna University administration and formed an opinion that the investigation must be handed over to the SIT," the bench said.

It said the SIT shall ensure no offenders go scot-free, irrespective of their official position and social hierarchy.