Police Interrogation of Bidar School Kids: Proposal Sent for Departmental Inquiry
The Wire Staff
Real journalism holds power accountable
Since 2015, The Wire has done just that.
But we can continue only with your support.
New Delhi: The Karnataka government has submitted a proposal to the director general and inspector general of police (DG&IGP) to initiate a departmental inquiry against the policemen who interrogated children of the Shaheen Education Society at Bidar, while carrying weapons, the high court was told.
The government informed the high court of this development in response to a petition by advocate Nayana Jyothi Jhawar and another person, filed in 2020, that the interrogation violated rights of children and sought compensation to their parents or legal guardians for alleged emotional and mental agony.
The police had interrogated students of Classes 4, 5 and 6 of the Shaheen Primary and High School in Bidar on January 21, 2020 after they participated in a play that questioned the twin policies of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Registry of Citizens (NRC). The police questioned students and teachers and filed a case of sedition. The parent of one of the students was arrested, leaving the minor child without any guardian.
According to the New Indian Express, the court said on the last date of hearing that the case prima facie represented a serious violation of rights of the children under the provision of Rule 86 (5) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016. It had directed the state government to file an affidavit from a senior police officer stating on record action that has been initiated against the police officials who interrogated the children while wearing their uniform and carrying weapons.
The state government was also told to consider the possibility of issuing a direction so that such violation of rights does not take place again.
On Friday, the government submitted before the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum that a proposal was sent to the DG&IGP, according to the Indian Express.
The court noted that the state government had partially complied with its previous directions. However, it noted that the affidavit was silent about issuing directions to police across the state to ensure that such violations are not repeated. Then the state government sought time to comply, according to the report.
This article went live on September fourth, two thousand twenty one, at zero minutes past three in the afternoon.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.