The verdict of the district court, Thodupuzha, Kerala rejecting the petition of Suryanelli victim that Prof.P J Kurien is included as an accused in the case, is very much unfortunate and unjustified.
Since the rape victim herself has alleged that Kurien was also one of the rapists was not viewed seriously by the court. Circumstantial evidences were there to prove that Mr. Kurien was at that place as alleged by the girl should have been taken into account before final disposal.
The judgment is a blow on the face of the victim and her family who have been fighting for justice for the last seventeen years. The Suryanelli rape case involves gangrape of a 16-year-old girl continuously for 40 days by 42 men in 1996. From the beginning of this case the girl has been continuously naming PJ Kurien’s name. But neither proper investigation nor judicial procedure have taken place regarding this allegation. Women in this country were hoping better understanding from the part of judiciary after the whole episode of Delhi gang rape incident and the passage of the criminal law amendment bill with important amendments ensuring accountability from the part of the state and stringent actions against the culprits. But the judgment in the Suryanelli case by the district court, Thodupuzha, leaving P J Kurien free, sabotage the spirit of the Justice J S Verma committee ‘s recommendations which were adopted by the central government. AIDWA expresses deep dissatisfaction on the judgment and the remark made by the court that’ P J Kurien’s name was deliberately dragged in to the case with bad intention’ is highly objectionable since it questions the right of the victim to raise a complaint.
This is the perfect example of how a victim can be denied justice even after several years. This has to be discussed all over the country for how morally and legally, a state failed to protect a 16-year-old girl.
