Andhra Pradesh High Court orders trial of Rishiteswari suicide case under POCSO

Nelapadu (Amarvati): The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday directed that M Rishiteshwari's suicide case be investigated under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, as she was still a minor at the time of the incident.

High Court judge Justice Ch Manavendranath Roy directed a special court for POCSO cases in Guntur to complete the trial on the chargesheet filed by the police within six months.

The court found fault with the POCSO special court for not taking cognisance of the charge sheet filed by the police against the accused in the case under the Act.

The judge said the victim was below 18 years of age at the time of harassment by her seniors and professors.

M Rishiteshwari of Warangal, A B.Arch student of Acharya Nagarjuna University, committed suicide in her hostel room on July 14, 2015. There were allegations that apart from her seniors, college principal was also responsible for harassing her sexually.

The police registered cases against them under various sections of IPC for ragging her apart from under POCSO Act.

When the police filed a chargesheet in the POCSO special court, the special court turned down the same on the ground that Rishiteshwari was a major and she had not lodged any complaint against the persons who allegedly harassed her.

Her father challenged the special court order in the High Court in 2017 and submitted evidences to prove that she was indeed a minor at the time of her suicide.

His lawyer argued that since she was a minor who had been subject to sexual harassment, the case should be tried under POCSO Act