The Delhi police on Friday joined cause with the Uber rape victim against a Delhi High Court’s order to recall and examine 13 prosecution witnesses, including the victim, on a demand made by the accused.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, for the Delhi Police, informed a Bench led by Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu.

The Bench agreed to hear the matter on March 24 along with a similar petition filed by the victim against the High Court’s March 4 order. The Delhi Police has sought dismissal of the high court order on the ground that it would further cause harassment to the victim.

The Supreme Court on March 10 stayed both the High Court order and the rape trial, while restraining the media from reporting testimonies so far given by any of the 13 witnesses on the basis of the March 4 order.

The victim had approached the Supreme Court, saying that she cannot go through the agony of the trial again. She said in cases of crimes against women, the victims alone suffer from such delay.

The victim was allegedly assaulted and raped by Shiv Kumar Yadav, a driver with Uber taxi services, while on her way home on December 5 night last year.

The March 4 order had come on the basis of a plea by Mr. Yadav claim that his earlier trial lawyer “was not competent to appear as an advocate” as he was not issued a certificate to practice law, but relented to his demand at the end.

Source: TH