“Shame on you”: SC slams Haryana police, CWC over minor rape case, orders SIT probe

The Supreme Court on Wednesday harshly criticized Haryana Police and the Gurugram Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for their “shameful” and “insensitive” handling of the alleged rape of a three-year-old girl, constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of senior women IPS officers to ensure an independent probe.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi , directed the case be assigned to a special POCSO court presided over by a woman judge. The court’s rebuke was sharp: “Shame on you! Is this the way the state deals with crime? The child has undergone more horrifying repeated experiences than the crime itself.”

The court noted that instead of visiting the child, authorities repeatedly summoned her and her parents to the police station and CWC, often in front of the accused, violating norms. Police attempts to downplay the crime by classifying it under Section 10 of the POCSO Act , instead of Section 6 , which carries 20 years to life imprisonment , were described as “wholly unjustified.” Justice Bagchi remarked, “If this is the quality of understanding of sensitivity in case of a three-year-old, what do you expect of the rule of law?”

The SIT will be led by ADGP Kala Ramachandran , SP Dr. Anshu Singla , and DyCP Jasleen Kaur . The court also disassociated Gurugram CP and other officials from the case and ordered show-cause notices for potential disciplinary and criminal action.

Expressing doubts about the CWC’s competence, the court directed Haryana’s Women and Child Development Department to file affidavits detailing appointments of CWC members statewide. The Gurugram CWC may face removal, with members required to explain their February 5 report.

The three-year-old was allegedly assaulted over two months by two female domestic helpers and a male accomplice in a Sector 54 Gurugram society. The crime occurred between Dec 2025 and Jan 2026 , but the parents reported it only after the child disclosed her ordeal. An FIR was registered on Feb 4, 2026 under the POCSO Act and local criminal laws.

The Supreme Court’s intervention highlights the urgent need for sensitivity, accountability, and rigorous investigation in crimes involving child victims, sending a strong message to authorities nationwide.