Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken suo moto cognizance of a woman being paraded half-naked in Tarn Taran district of Punjab and issued a notice to the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government to furnish an action-taken report by April 30.
Calling out the assault on the 55-year-old woman who was stripped and paraded semi-naked after her son eloped with and married a woman from the neighbourhood, Justice Sanjay Vashisht said it reminded him of the “Mahabharat-era cheerharan of Draupadi”.
“I am reminded of the historical event that had taken place during Mahabharat era – cheerharan of Draupadi at the behest of Kauravas, and the silence of the Pandavas and Bhishma Pitamah – which ultimately resulted in bloodshed of thousands in Mahabharat war,” he observed .
The court also said, “A common man today does not expect that the ‘judicial system’ to remain a silent spectator to such events happening under the nose of the administration.”
Such incidents should be stopped immediately and strict action should be taken against the responsible persons, he said, referring the matter to the acting Chief Justice as a PIL.
The police said that five accused have been arrested so far. The mobile phone with which the video was shot has also been seized. The government told the court that further action in the matter is ongoing.
