In Re., Women Cops Put Minor Rape Victim in Lock-Up, (SC) BS981398
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

Before:- Altamas Kabir, C.J., Mr. Anil R. Dave and Mr. Vikramajit Sen, JJ.

Suo Moto Petition No. 203 of 2013. D/d. 10.4.2013.

Women Cops Put Minor Rape Victim in Lock-Up, In Re - Petitioner

For the Petitioner:- None.

For the Respondent:- Mr. Abhishek Chaudhary, Advocate.

For the State of U.P.:- Mr. Sandeep Singh, Advocate.

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 - A ten-year old girl kept in a lock-up when she went to the police station to file a rape complaint - It is a matter of some seriousness and concern which needs to be looked into, having regard to the fact that, first of all, the victim herself was put inside the lock-up, and, secondly, a minor cannot, in any circumstances, be kept in the lock-up of the police station under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.

[Para 1]

ORDER

An Article with the heading "Women cops put minor 'rape' victim in lock-up" appearing in the Indian Express newspaper today [10th April, 2013] has been brought to our notice from which it appears that a ten-year old girl was kept in a lock-up when she went to the police station to file a rape complaint. If the said news report is true, then it is a matter of some seriousness and concern which needs to be looked into, having regard to the fact that, first of all, the victim herself was put inside the lock-up, and, secondly, a minor cannot, in any circumstances, be kept in the lock-up of the police station under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.

2. Learned Standing counsel for the State of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Abhishek Chaudhary, is present in Court and is requested to take instructions as to the news item.

3. List this matter next Monday [15th April, 2013] for further orders. Let the copy of the newspaper, which has been produced before us, be kept with the records.

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