NHRC issues notice to UP govt over two minor girls sent to jail instead of juvenile home

LUCKNOW: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that in a case of alleged cow slaughter, the police sent two minor girls, aged about 12 and 16 years, to a jail in Khatauli, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, instead of sending them to juvenile home, as per the law.
The police officers preferred to go by their physical appearance instead of believing their Aadhar cards which were shown to them as proof of their age.The girls could come out of the jail on bail only after spending three and half months there and feel traumatized.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report about the incident, if true, amount to gross violation of human rights of the two minor girls. Not sending the minor girls to juvenile home, if they are in conflict with the law, is a violation of the statutory obligation on part of the public servant.
Accordingly, NHRC has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and DGP of the UP government, calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks.
According to the media report, carried on April 10, 2018, both the sisters were arrested on December 29, 2017 along with seven others, including their mother while their father was on the run.