NHRC's Investigation Team to enquire into juveniles' plight at Govind Ashram, Meerut
New Delhi, 6 October 2005
The National Human Rights Commission has directed its Investigation Team to enquire into the allegations reported by a newspaper on the conditions faced by juveniles in the Govind Ashram located in the Juvenile Court at Saket, Meerut, UP. The news story along with a photograph captioned "Masoomo Ke Liye Kala Pani Se Kam Nahi Jail" was carried in the Meerut edition of the Hindi newspaper, Amar Ujala, dated 21 September 2005 and on the basis of which the NHRC took suo-motu cognizance.
The news report drew attention to the pathetic condition of 59 juveniles who were taken to the Meerut Court for appearance before the Magistrate on 20 September 2005. The van carrying them, it reported, was parked in an open area outside the court premises under direct sunlight for five hours during which the children were not offered food or water. It quoted the children as saying that the condition of the jail where they are lodged is even worse. While the total capacity of the jail is 50, as on 19 September 2005 there are 118 inmates, it was reported. One of the children even alleged that he apprehended a threat to his life from the jail officials. The children are believed to have revealed to the correspondent that they are being given rotten food and contaminated water. It was reported that there is only one teacher in the jail, which teaches them for half an hour only and they do not have books to read.
The Commission on reading the news report observed that though it is not clear from the news story whether the children have been produced before the Juvenile Board under the Juvenile Justice Act yet, if the contents are true, they raise a serious concern about the violation of child rights.
It directed that its Investigation Team be sent to the Govind Ashram located at Juvenile Court in Saket to specifically inquire into the facts alleged in the newspaper report and to submit its report within two weeks.
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The National Human Rights Commission has directed its Investigation Team to enquire into the allegations reported by a newspaper on the conditions faced by juveniles in the Govind Ashram located in the Juvenile Court at Saket, Meerut, UP. The news story along with a photograph captioned "Masoomo Ke Liye Kala Pani Se Kam Nahi Jail" was carried in the Meerut edition of the Hindi newspaper, Amar Ujala, dated 21 September 2005 and on the basis of which the NHRC took suo-motu cognizance.
The news report drew attention to the pathetic condition of 59 juveniles who were taken to the Meerut Court for appearance before the Magistrate on 20 September 2005. The van carrying them, it reported, was parked in an open area outside the court premises under direct sunlight for five hours during which the children were not offered food or water. It quoted the children as saying that the condition of the jail where they are lodged is even worse. While the total capacity of the jail is 50, as on 19 September 2005 there are 118 inmates, it was reported. One of the children even alleged that he apprehended a threat to his life from the jail officials. The children are believed to have revealed to the correspondent that they are being given rotten food and contaminated water. It was reported that there is only one teacher in the jail, which teaches them for half an hour only and they do not have books to read.
The Commission on reading the news report observed that though it is not clear from the news story whether the children have been produced before the Juvenile Board under the Juvenile Justice Act yet, if the contents are true, they raise a serious concern about the violation of child rights.
It directed that its Investigation Team be sent to the Govind Ashram located at Juvenile Court in Saket to specifically inquire into the facts alleged in the newspaper report and to submit its report within two weeks.
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