The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Juveniles lodged in Central Prison

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Thursday, Dec 04, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Juveniles lodged in Central Prison

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka State Human Rights Commission on Wednesday found 19 persons aged below 18 lodged in the Bangalore Central Prison. This is the second time that juveniles have been found lodged in the prison.

The SHRC team led by Inspector-General of Police Bipin Gopalakrishna went to the prison following a complaint by the South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM). It gave the names of the juveniles who are lodged in the block meant for those aged between 18 and 21. Mr. Bipin Gopalakrishna visited the block and asked about the juveniles.

Chief Superintendent of the Prison M.C. Vishwanathaiah said some of the names mentioned in the complaint were of those who had undergone ossification tests done for age verification at Victoria Hospital in April. He said they were still awaiting the hospital reports. If they were found to be minors, they would approach the court to send the juveniles to the observation home. All those mentioned in the complaint were lodged in the prison as per court orders. Mr. Vishwanathaiah had been asked to submit a report to the SHRC.

Back in focus

The Wednesday’s incident has again brought to fore the lack of efforts by the police, judiciary, prisons and the Department of Woman and Child Welfare in preventing juveniles being lodged in prisons and enforcing the provisions of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act 2000. On April 3 the SHRC found 20 juveniles lodged in the Bangalore Prison.

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Karnataka