Chennai:
Four years ago, she was molested while in school. Ruchika(name changed) alleges her physics had molested her while she was in the laboratory. Four years later, she is still waiting for justice.
Now a first year undergraduate student, Ruchika recollects the trauma she went through when she was in school.
"The teacher threatened me that I will not be promoted from class nine and that being a poor girl I will have no other way to continue studies but for the free education in that school," said Ruchika
The accused, who was put behind bars is out on bail, teaching at the same school. In 2009, the Madras High Court had directed the state CBCID to complete the trial in 90 days, but nothing has moved so far. The progress is so lackadaisical that even the witnesses have not been summoned yet.
"She was molested when the victim was in class nine, now she has entered college, soon she may be married and have a child, and I don't know whether she'd be willing to depose later. This will only help the accused escape," said M Sreedhar, Counsel for the victim.
Victims of child molestation have a very vulnerable psyche, believe experts in child psychology. The long wait for justice in such cases could only deepen their emotional damage.
However, the CBCID officials have no immediate answers for the delay.
Close to four hundred child rape cases are pending in courts across Tamil Nadu. Activists are now pressing for the Delhi model of children's courts across the country to expedite justice for child victims.
For years accused in molestation cases have used the judicial delay as a weapon to evade action. The question that is being asked now is that, could the unexplained delay in Ruchika's case be a cover for the accused to go scotfree?