Law minister: on Ruchika's case

New Delhi: The law minister, Mr Veerappa Moily, on Friday said the molestation case of teenager Ruchika Girhotra needs to be "revisited". He, however, added that the "rule of law should not be interfered by any one". "The case of this nature has been mistreated and whoever is responsible has to be appropriately dealt with. And a case of this nature needs to be revisited," Mr Moily told reporters Friday.

Fourteen-year-old Ruchika was molested Aug 12, 1990 by S.P.S. Rathore , who rose to become Haryana's police chief. The girl committed suicide three years later. A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court convicted Rathore in the molestation case and sentenced him to six months' imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs.1,000. Rathore was immediately granted bail by the court.

Mr Moily said he had discussed the matter with the solicitor general of India. "I have discussed it with the solicitor general of India and have asked him what could be done after this sentence. I told him to discuss the case with the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) director also," said Mr Moily. Acknowledging that justice has been delayed in the case, Moily said that the laws relating to atrocities on women needed to be revisited. "The delay of 19 years by the judiciary is unpardonable. We have to revisit laws also in terms of punishment and the manner in which the case was treated," Mr Moily added. The law minister added that the cases relating to atrocities against women, senior citizens and disabled citizens will be fast-tracked.