Revoke Dorphang’s nomination: SCPCR

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, JULY 10: The State Commission for Protection of Child’s Rights (SCPCR) has appealed to the Assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal to revoke the appointment of jailed legislator Julius K Dorphang – who was charged for raping a minor girl – in the two important committees of the Assembly.

His (Dorphang) appointment has caused uproar in the state when angry women activists met the chairperson of the SCPCR Meena Kharkongor – who has lodged a complaint against the legislator in the rape case.

This has also come at a time when the trial for the case related to the sexual and trafficking of the 14-year-old girl – in which several people have been arrested – has just begun.

In a notification issued recently, Dorphang was appointed as a member of the Privilege Committee and the Subordinate Legislation Committee of the Legislative Assembly.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kharkongor said the commission has taken a strong resolution to write to the Speaker and other members of the Committee to drop the accused MLA and look for other people with cleaner backgrounds as members.

“We have decided to send a resolution to the Speaker and to the Committees’ members to look into it and decide what is best for legislation. We hope the Speaker to consider,” she said.

Condemning the appointment, she said, “There are other legislators whose name could have been taken instead of a person who has been accused of an offence under POCSO.”

She also said that the appointment of Dorphang in a top Assembly Committee is highly questionable at a time when she is due to depose before a POCSO Court shortly in which the MLA in question is charged with.

“It is very strange because the trial has started as you know and in the case I am the complainant (which my evidence will be held tomorrow). I don’t know whether it is a coincidence or an ulterior motive to intimidate me,” she said.

Asked, the chairperson said the POCSO is a special Act for protection child’s rights and here it is not for the prosecution to establish whether the accused is guilty or not as it is the accused himself who have to prove he is not guilty of the crime.

Stating that sentiments of the people cannot be override, she said, “With such appointment being made then where do the people of the society go for justice.”

Dorphang was arrested from Guwahati earlier this year and he was booked under section 366 (A) of the IPC and registered with section 3 (a)/4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) and under section 5 of the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act (ITPA).