Jail supdt in soup for sending mother of newborn for hearing

Sending a woman for court hearing, despite exemption as she had delivered a baby six days ago, has proved costly for Ambala jail superintendent. The court of additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) Gurvinder Kaur on Friday directed director general of police (Prisons) to take action against jail superintendent Ratan Singh for non-compliance of her orders dated July 26, where Radha was exempted from appearance.

Radha is an accused, besides two men, in a rape and kidnapping case. She had delivered a baby inside the jail on July 25. On July 26, the court exempted her from the next hearing. But on July 31, she was sent with her newborn, along with other criminals, from Ambala jail in the prison van.

When the judge saw Radha's condition and her newborn, she summoned the jail superintendent to appear in person. Ratan Singh appeared and said he was not aware of the order of the court regarding exemption.

"I have called for explanation of assistant superintendent and deputy superintendent in this regard. The order of the court was never put before me. The responsibility will be fixed for the lapse," said Ratan Singh, in his defence.

But the judge found his reply unsatisfactory. Radha has been facing trial, along with her husband, Manoj, and their acquaintance, Vinod, in a case of kidnapping and rape of a 16-year-old girl. Radha was two-month pregnant when she was arrested on December 28, 2012, while Vinod was arrested on December 30. The girl had gone with Vinod while Radha and Manoj had assisted.