SC Slams Gurugram Police Over Four-Year-Old Rape Case, Orders SIT
SC Slams Gurugram Police Over Four-Year-Old Rape Case, Orders SIT
Supreme Court criticizes Haryana police for insensitivity in a Gurugram rape case involving a four-year-old survivor, ordering an all-women SIT and swift action.
In a sharply worded hearing on March 25, 2026, the Supreme Court criticized the Haryana Police and the Gurugram Child Welfare Committee for their handling of a rape case involving a four-year-old girl, calling the conduct patently insensitive and unacceptable. The parents’ petition, which urged a CBI or SIT probe, prompted the Court to intervene directly and demand accountability.
The Court noted with dismay that the survivor was summoned to a police station rather than aided with care and protection, labeling the move a failure of child-friendly policing. In response, it ordered the formation of a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising senior women IPS officers from the Haryana cadre to take over the probe and ensure a survivor-centric investigation. The government was directed to notify the SIT promptly and to ensure it operates independently of the ongoing Gurugram police investigation.
To safeguard the integrity of the proceedings, the Court ordered that all officers of the Gurugram police, including the Police Commissioner, be disassociated from the case. It further mandated the District Judge to transfer the matter to a senior female judicial officer presiding over the POCSO court, aiming to expedite case handling and enhance sensitivity toward the child survivor. Show-cause notices were issued to Gurugram Police officials and to members of the Gurugram Child Welfare Committee, asking why action should not be taken against them for alleged inaction and mishandling. The Court also directed the Gurugram District Judge to hand over the case records by March 26, 2026.
The Court’s intervention reflects a broader push for stricter oversight in child protection cases and signals a potential shift toward more child-friendly, properly supervised investigations in Haryana. While the petition contends inaction by local authorities, the Court’s orders emphasize accountability and rapid redress for the survivor and her family. The case remains a focal point for discussions on how best to balance urgent legal action with the needs and rights of the most vulnerable victims.
