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Two young girls were allegedly molested by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in the Gonda district of Easter Uttar Pradesh, about 120 kilometres from Lucknow.
According to reports, the girls -- aged 13 and 21 years, were summoned to the ACJM’s chamber for recording their statements under section 164 of the CrPC in two separate cases of kidnapping.
The girls have now alleged that the judicial magistrate made them undress in his chamber and even went to the extent of touching them inappropriately on the pretext that he was required to ascertain whether the girls were adult or not.
“ACJM sahib called us inside his chamber and while recording our statements, he asked me to take off my clothes. He then started touching my body, and when I tried to object, he said that was necessary as he had to confirm whether I was a minor or a major,” the visibly shocked 13-year-old girl told mediapersons in Gonda.The same allegation was made by the other girl as well.
Even as the incident has led to an uproar in the Gonda court premises, the local police have not registered a first information report against the judge as the rules make it mandatory for the cops to seek prior permission of the administrative judge of Allahabad high court.
According to the local police, a formal letter has been sent in this connection by the Gonda superintendent of police to the district judge, who in turn would forward the request to the high court.
Meanwhile, lawyers in Gonda have proceeded on a lightning strike, boycotting all work. They also went on rampage and ransacked the chamber of the ACJM. The Gonda Bar Association has also given a written complaint against the ACJM and have demanded his immediate ‘removal and arrest’.