Effect given to the recommendations of the committee and the Governing Body - REPORT_NO332, November 2003

Effect given to the recommendations of the Committee and the Governing Body

1. 84. The Committee last examined this case at its March 2003 meeting, where it noted with regret that judicial hearings had still not taken place, eight years after the murder of Ms. Ahilya Devi, and expressed the hope that substantial progress could be noted in the very near future. The Committee requested the Government to provide it with the judgement of the court as soon as it is issued and to keep it informed of developments concerning the arrest of two absconding parties [see 330th Report, paras. 117-119].
2. 85. In communications dated 23 May and 5 November 2003, the Government indicates that the case is pending before the Kishenganj District Magistrate Court, Bihar. Five witnesses have been examined, respectively on 7 April and 1 May 2003, and the case is scheduled for a further hearing on 20 May 2003. No witnesses were presented for cross-examination at a hearing on 17 September 2003; action as directed by the court has been initiated. The Government does not provide any indication on the arrest of the two absconding accused parties.
3. 86. The Committee notes this information. While noting that the trial has now started, albeit some eight years after the murder (in August 1995) of Ms. Ahilya Devi, a trade unionist who was trying to organize rural workers, the Committee strongly hopes that the proceedings will be concluded soon in this extremely serious case. The Committee requests the Government to provide it with the judgement of the court as soon as it is issued, and requests it once again to keep it informed of developments concerning the arrest of the two absconding accused parties (Messrs. Shri Munna Punjabi, alias Jai Prakash, and Shri Shrawan Giri).