New Delhi, May 3: THE man convicted for the Shanti Mukund Hospital rape was to be sentenced today. Instead, the court has asked the victim to appear tomorrow to reply to convict Bhura’s proposal for marriage, made minutes before he was to be sentenced. The victim told Newsline she will be in court and face the judge — ‘‘to ask him to hang Bhura’’.

Bhura, a ward boy, who raped and severely injured the 21-year-old nurse, said he wished to marry her in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge J M Malik at Karkardooma. Bhura has been convicted on all three counts of rape, causing grievous injury and confinement. On September 6, 2003, Bhura had after raping the girl gouged out her right eye, leaving her half-blind with injuries in the left eye as well.

The application, submitted today through Bhura’s counsel, Mukesh Ahuja, said: ‘‘...To save the life of the victim as well as the lives of both the families, the convict, from the core of his heart, without prejudice to the merits of the case, is ready to perform marriage with the victim.’’ The application added Bhura was ready to bear the expenses of the marriage.

The judge accepted the application and directed the victim and her parents to appear in court tomorrow and reply. During the hearing, the judge also told both the prosecutor and the defence counsel that if the victim agrees to the marriage, Bhura’s sentence might be reduced.

Public prosecutor Y P Ahluwalia said the court’s orders will be followed and the victim would appear in court tomorrow. ‘‘But this (Bhura’s offer) is nothing but a stunt to get off with a lighter sentence,’’ he said.

‘I’ll tell judge to hang him’
The victim has expressed disgust at Bhura’s offer and surprise that the judge had entertained it. ‘‘This is so bad...I have waited so long for him to be sentenced. Instead, they want me to say whether I am willing to marry him,’’ she told Newsline. ‘‘I will definitely appear in court with my parents, and I will tell the judge to hang him, so that what has happened to me might not happen to anyone else,’’ she declared.

‘Objectionable, embarrassing’
BRINDA KARAT, CPI(M) Politburo member: ‘‘Highly objectionable, sets a wrong and dangerous precedent. It’s demeaning to the victim. The work of the court which has found this man guilty is to convict him and not act as a marriage bureau. We will move an application.’’ RAJINDER SACHAR, former High Court judge: ‘‘A matter of embarrassment for the judiciary.’’ INDIRA JAISING, lawyer and activist: ‘‘This will imply that people can rape with impunity...’’ MADHU KISHWAR, editor of Manushi, ‘‘I am appalled by the order. Nothing can justify this. The court should have instead given the accused five more years for suggesting such a thing.’’ KIRAN BEDI, senior IPS officer: ‘‘While there is no reason to doubt the intentions of the honourable court, I find it very bizarre. I only wish the court had not mixed the criminal act with the accused’s personal preferences. I hope this does not set a trend.’’ RAJ MANGAL PRASAD, NGO Pratidhi: ‘‘What right has he to offer marriage? This is a last-ditch effort to get away with lighter sentence.’’