(T.S. Thakur, C.J. and A.M. Khanwilkar, J.)
Sasikala Pushpa and Others ________________________ Petitioner(s);
v.
State of Tamil Nadu _______________________________ Respondent.
Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 7252/2016, decided on September 26, 2016
(With appln. (s) for exemption from filing c/c of the impugned judgment and exemption from filing O.T. and office report) With SLP (Crl) No. 7287/2016 (With appln.(s) for exemption from filing O.T. and appln.(s) for exemption from filing c/c of the impugned judgment and Interim Relief and Office Report)
The Order of the court was delivered by
Order
1. Heard.
2. Issue notice.
3. Mr. D. Yogesh Kanna, learned counsel appears and accepts notice on behalf of the respondent-State.
4. Counter affidavit may be filed within four weeks. Rejoinder affidavit, if any, be filed within two weeks thereafter. Post after pleadings are complete.
5. In the meantime, the petitioners shall remain protected against in (1) Crime NO. 5 of 2016 registered in All Women Police Station, Pudukkottai, Tuticorin District, and (2) Crime No. 1331 of 2016 registered with K. Pudhur jurisdictional Police Station. The petitioners shall however appear before the investigating officer in the police station concerned dealing with the first mentioned case on Monday, the 3rd October, 2016 and on Friday, the 7th October, 2016 in the second case, mentioned above.
6. Ms. Meenakshi Arora, learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioners, at this stage submits that while the petitioners will certainly join the investigation on all such dates as are fixed for that purpose and cooperate with the investigating officers in all respects, their security ought to be ensured. She prays for police protection so that no harm is done to.
7. Mr. Harin P. Raval, learned senior counsel appearing for the respondent-State, in response submits that the State Government will take all such steps as are necessary for protecting the petitioners against any harm. That submission is recorded.
———
