Court disallows petition against Scarlett's mother

The Goa Children's Court on Monday disallowed the petition filed against Fiona Mackeown, mother of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, by a Goa-based NGO for neglecting her daughter. The court refused to direct the police to investigate the role of Fiona Mackeown in the death of her daughter British teenager Scarlett Keeling. The judge mentioned that as per Section 20 of the Children's Act, cognizance of any offence under the Act could be taken only on a complaint filed by the child, her parents, guardians, close relatives, police or a competent authority under the Children's Act. Scarlett was found dead on Goa's popular Anjuna beach on 18th February following which two locals were arrested and charged for drugging, raping and leaving her to die on the beach. The NGO, Utt Goenkara had earlier prayed that Fiona be charged as she had left Scarlett in a company of another guy in Goa on the day when she was allegedly drugged, raped and left to die on the beach. The NGO, after today's order, has said that they will move the High Court challenging the order. Advocate Aires Rodrigues, who represented the NGO, said that they had not asked the court to take cognizance of the offence but to only direct the police to investigate under Section 156 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the role of Fiona Mackeown in leaving her 15-year-old child in the company of a stranger Julio and proceeding on a holiday to Gokarna in Karnataka. Rodrigues stated that Fiona was fully aware that her daughter was a minor and that the law mandates that all children within the State of Goa be provided a safe environment wherein the parents are responsible to ensure that the child is not abused.

"Loved reading this piece by SANJAY DIXIT?
Join LAWyersClubIndia's network for daily News Updates, Judgment Summaries, Articles, Forum Threads, Online Law Courses, and MUCH MORE!!"

Join our Telegram group

Join our Whatsapp group