DIMAPUR, MAY 20: The Supreme Court has issued notice to Nagaland Government and two unnamed respondents in connection with the petition filed by IAS officer Reny Wilfred, against whom a case of alleged molestation is pending trial at the POCSO court of Tuensang.
In an order issued on May 18, a Bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia stated: “Issue notice both on the Special Leave Petition as well as on the prayer for interim relief. The petitioner shall be at liberty to pray for adjournment of hearing of the matter before the Trial Court”.
As Nagaland Page reported previously, Reny had filed an SLP in the Supreme Court after the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court rejected his appeal for transfer of trial from the Special Court (POCSO) of Tuensang to any other Special Court (POCSO) within Nagaland.
On April 25, the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court ruled that it did not find any ground to infer or suggest that Reny was able to exhibit a reasonable apprehension that he will be prejudiced and denied a fair trial if the case is conducted before the Special Judge (POCSO) of Tuensang.
“There is therefore no merit in the petition and the same is accordingly dismissed. The learned Special Judge (POCSO), Tuensang, shall forthwith proceed with the case and dispose the same in accordance with law”, it had ruled then.
The IAS officer, currently the Joint Secretary to the Government of Nagaland in the Department of Planning and Coordination, is facing trial in the Special Court (POCSO) of Tuensang for allegedly molesting two minor girls during his stint as Deputy Commissioner of Noklak.
While the SLP in the Supreme Court was filed on May 9, it was registered on May 11.
Nagaland Page can also confirm that the apex Court had on May 10 directed the petitioner to redact the names of the victims/respondents “from annex P2, P3, P4, P16, P25, P26” of the petition.
On the same day, it also asked the petitioner to file a typed copy of page 1 after redacting the names of the victims/respondents.
(Page News Service)
