The Meghalaya High Court has sought a report from the Child Welfare Committee of the State government regarding the physical, psychiatric and psychological health of the minor girl who was raped by former Mawhati MLA Julius K. Dorphang.
The division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh passed the order today during hearing of the appeal filed by Dorphang against his conviction and jail sentence for the rape of the young girl.
During the hearing, the State government informed the court that the rape survivor is under the care of the Child Welfare Committee and all her needs are taken care of by the State government, including the travel costs for the periodic visits that her father makes.
Stating that it is the duty of the court to ensure the well-being of the survivor, the two judges said, “Quite irrespective of whether the appellant has been rightly convicted or not, there is no dispute that the survivor in this case is in poor shape.”
According to the High Court, it is necessary that the rape survivor be examined by a team of doctors to ascertain her physical, psychiatric and psychological health.
“A thorough examination must be conducted and immediate remedial measures taken as may be deemed appropriate. The State should file a report in such regard through a responsible officer of the Child Welfare Committee when the matter appears next a fortnight hence,” the High Court said while fixing July 4 as the next hearing on the matter.
It may be recalled that Special POCSO Judge of Ri-Bhoi district, Febroneous Silkam Sangma had on August 13, 2021 convicted Dorphang and sentenced him to 25 years for raping the minor girl in 2017 when he was a legislator. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 15 lakh on Dorphang.
The POCSO court also sentenced to life imprisonment three handlers of the girl, besides imposing fines of Rs 1 lakh each. Darisha Mary Kharbamon, Mamoni Parveen and her husband Sandeep Biswa were accused of getting the girl for the crime and inducing her to prostitution.
Dorphang was arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged against him by the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) with the East Khasi Hills district police in December 2016, alleging his involvement in an illicit act with a minor.
In January 2017, the SCPCR had filed another complaint in Ri-Bhoi, alleging that Dorphang had committed a similar offence against the same minor at a resort in the district.
On the basis of the complaints, two separate cases were registered against Dorphang, following which he went missing. He was arrested on January 7 from a bus terminus in neighbouring Assam.
Dorphang has been lodged at the Nongpoh district jail since his arrest before the high court granted him bail on medical grounds last year. He was re-arrested on August 13 after being convicted.
He was the founder-chairman of the Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
He surrendered in 2007 as HNLC chairman, and in 2013, won the election from the Mawhati seat as an independent candidate.
