Amitha Muraleedharan
The Allahabad High Court has issued a notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) suit by an NGO against the Uttar Pradesh government seeking the steps taken by it to comply with the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 (JJ Act).
The court was hearing a PIL filed by NGO, HAQ-Centre for Child Rights, regarding unlawful detention and torture against juveniles during the Anti-CAA protest in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Chief Justice Govind Mathur has directed the state government to file a counter affidavit on the status and compliance with duties and responsibilities under the JJ Act in all districts of UP.
The court has also instructed the Principal Magistrate and a member of the Juvenile Justice Board to pay weekly or regular visits in prison to ensure that no child is detained in an adult jail.
Further, it has directed the state to file a compiled report on the same in the Juvenile Justice Committee of the High Court.
The Bench also highlighted the need to set up a committee to observe the implementation of the JJ Act.
The plea argued that the UP police took action violating the JJ Act and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the fundamental right to life with dignity of children guaranteed under Articles14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution.
Vrinda Grover, Soutik Banerjee, and Tanmay Sadh appeared for the petitioner.
The matter will now be heard on December 14.