K’taka HC Restricts Visitor Access to Belagavi Assault Victim

The  Karnataka High Court issued an order stipulating that individuals, groups, associations, or political parties are not permitted to visit the victim of the recent Belagavi incident, where a woman was paraded naked and assaulted, without prior written permission from the medical officer or treating doctor.

A division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit, addressed the matter urgently in the Chief Justice’s chambers.

The court clarified that its directive does not hinder family members of the victim, official representatives of statutory authorities or commissions, or investigating agencies from visiting in a need-based manner.

The urgency of the hearing arose after the Chief Justice observed a news report on a television channel stating, “Belagavi incident victim is to be visited by the representatives of National Human Rights Commission as well as by the delegation of a political party.”

“While the visit of people to the hospital to see the victim is not uncommon in such circumstances, this court, under normal circumstances, would not seek to restrict the freedom of movement of any citizen. However, considering the unbearable trauma suffered by the victim and her ongoing medical treatment, we believe that a continuous flow of visitors may impact the victim’s health and disrupt the medical treatment. Therefore, we find it necessary to limit visitors in the best interest of the victim and to ensure uninterrupted medical treatment,” stated the order.

The bench further added, “In light of the above, we explicitly direct that no person, individual, groups, associations, political parties, or similar entities shall visit the victim’s location without prior written permission from the medical officer in charge of the hospital or the doctor treating the victim. It is understood that this order does not prohibit the victim’s family members, official representatives of Statutory Authorities/Commissions, or Investigating Agencies from visiting the victim as required.”

The bench is currently presiding over a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) related to the incident.

On Friday, the court had sought an additional status report on the actions taken following the brutal incident.