In a big relief to athlete Pinki Pramanik, Calcutta high court on Friday ordered probe into the alleged violations of her rights.
The court has also asked the West Bengal government to file an affidavit within two weeks on the progress made in Pinki Pramanik’s case.
The court was hearing a PIL against the violation of Pinki Pramanik’s rights.
The court has also sought an explanation from the state government for detention of Pinki in an isolated cell inside the male prison even before her sex determination test results were out.
It further directed that the petitioner may file a complaint regarding circulation of a Compact Disc or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) clip, apparently recorded during one of the several rounds of medical testing conducted on Pramanik.
Rights Panel seeks report
Earlier, the state Human Rights Commission had directed the Home, Health and Police departments on July 4, 2012 to probe the alleged “inhuman torture” on Pramanik in police and jail custody and submit a report within two weeks.
“One complaint has been submitted alleging inhuman torture both in jail and police custody to Pinki Pramanik,” WBHRC chairman Justice Ashok Kumar Ganguly, members Justice N.C. Sil and S.N. Roy said in a letter to the three departments.
Saying that the Commission was seriously concerned, the WBHRC observed, “Prima facie, it’s a case of human rights violation.”
Bengal government pleads ignorance
Astonishingly, state government pleaded ignorance about the complaint made by the Asian gold medalist of the harassment she has been subjected to in the custody.
I have not received anything from Pinki Pramanik’s family, nor from any sports organisation. Nodescription has talked to me or written to me saying that what is going on is illegal,” state Sports Minister Madan Mitra said.
Pinki was arrested on June 14 after she was accused of being a male by her live-in partner, who also alleged that the athlete raped and tortured her.