SC stays Allahabad HC's order to check rape victim's horoscope for 'Mangal Dosha'

The vacation bench of India's Supreme Court on Saturday (June 3) stayed the Allahabad High Court's order directing Lucknow University’s astrology department’s head to determine whether an alleged rape victim was a Mangalik after the accused refused to marry her on the same grounds.

The vacation bench of India's Supreme Court on Saturday (June 3) stayed the Allahabad High Court's order directing Lucknow University’s astrology department’s head to determine whether an alleged rape victim was a Mangalik after the accused refused to marry her on the same grounds.

A two-judge vacation bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and also comprising Justice Pankaj Mithal passed the order today on the complainant’s plea.

"How did the Allahabad High Court enter into this astrology area, here? Astrology is a science, no doubt. But we do not understand this, why is this astrology report called for? We stay the order and ask the HC to decide bail plea on merit," the Supreme Court's two-judge vacation bench in its order yesterday said.

The Supreme Court earlier yesterday took Suo Motu cognizance of the matter and stayed the Allahabad High Court's May 23 order.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had directed the Head of Department (Astrology Department), Lucknow University to determine if the alleged rape victim is a Mangalik by examining her 'Kundali' in three weeks.

The apex court said, no observation has been made on merits. "Order stayed in the interest of justice," the top court said.