Friday, May 13 2005 19:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Taking note of reports about the hand of a woman being chopped for opposing child marriages, the Supreme Court today (May 13, 2005) issued notice to the Madhya Pradesh Government on a petition filed by a NGO seeking Rs 10 lakh compensation for the victim.

A Bench comprising Justice S B Sinha and Justice S H Kapadia also asked the State Human Rights Commission to inquire into the incidents of child marriages observing that such marriages were taking place despite its order asking the Collectors and Superintendents of Police to take preventive measures.

The Court asked the National Human Rights Commission to coordinate the inquiry into the incidents that would be conducted by the State Commissions.

Similar orders were passed pertaining to the States of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh on separate applications filed by NGO 'Forum for Fact Finding Documentation and Advocacy'.

On May 11, it was reported that a woman anganwadi worker Shakuntala Verma, engaged in persuading people against getting their children married, was brutally attacked and her arms were cut off.

Highlighting this incident, the NGO through senior advocate Colin Gonsalves and advocate Aparna Bhat demanded inquiry into the incident by a High Court judge and suspension and prosecution of the district officials.

On February 28 the court had reposed trust in the Collectors and Superintendents of Police that they would make every endeavour to prevent child marriages, preferably the mass child marriages.