Karnataka   

SHRC raises issue of juveniles in jail

BANGALORE: Following reports that 20 juveniles are lodged in the Bangalore Central Prison at Parappana Agrahra, the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Tuesday registered a case and ordered notices to the Home Secretary, Additional Director-General of Police and Inspector-General of Prisons and Deputy Inspector-General of the Bangalore Central Prison.

The commission registered a suo motu case and ordered impleading the three officials in the wake of preliminary findings by its investigation wing that about 20 inmates of the Bangalore Central Prison are below 18, according to a press release from the SHRC issued on Wednesday.

The Inspector-General of Police (SHRC) M.N. Reddi on March 31, submitted a report to the Commission Chairman Justice S.R. Nayak on the initial findings and sought permission for taking up an enquiry. On the basis of Mr. Reddi’s report, Justice Nayak ordered notices be issued as detaining juveniles in the Central Prison is a violation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of the Children) Act, 2000, as well as that of the basic human rights of the juveniles, the release said.

The commission has directed the respondents to submit their replies within a month disclosing names of officials responsible for the wrong-doing and disciplinary action, if taken, against such officers. The SHRC has also directed the officials to immediately remove the juvenile inmates from the prison.

When The Hindu contacted the Additional Director-General of Police and Inspector-General of Prisons S.T. Ramesh, he said the prison authorities have no role in deciding whether an inmate is a juvenile or an adult.

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