8-month-old rape victim shifted to AIIMS: Centre

New Delhi: The eight-month-old baby, who was allegedly raped by her 28-year-old cousin, has been shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for better medical care, the Centre informed the Supreme Court on Thursday.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, expressed its concern over the incident and asked the Centre and the petitioner’s lawyer to file details of pending cases of sexual assault against children across the country. This would enable it to take a “national view” of the issue, with the intention of figuring out how such trials can be fast-tracked.

Additional Solicitor Generals P.S. Narsimha and Pinky Anand, appearing for the Centre, informed the court that following its order, a team of doctors from AIIMS had visited the baby in a local government hospital and shifted her to AIIMS for better medical care.

The local hospital performed the corrective surgery in a professional manner, AIIMS said in its report.

The Delhi Legal Services Authority (DLSA), through its member secretary Sanjeev Jain, has also filed its status report, informing the top court that Rs 75,000 interim compensation has been given to the baby’s parents.

The law officers told the court that an FIR has already been registered and the accused was in judicial custody.

The apex court had on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the rape of the infant and directed two doctors of AIIMS to visit her in the hospital and assess her condition.

The court had also asked a member of DLSA to accompany the doctors. The baby was raped allegedly by her 28-year-old cousin on January 28 in a locality near Netaji Subhash Place in north- west Delhi.