Juveniles languishing in jail

The report also says that there are ample correction centre seats lying vacant to accommodate those in jail, but neither the jail authorities nor the correction centres are showing any inclination to rehabilitate them. Both the institutions came up with reasons which sounded more like excuses to shrug off responsibilities. For example, if the centres demand proper certificates of age, then the jail authorities must be able to provide them. At the same time, the centres should also not be so rigid in their regulations, because they must remember that over-strictness would only make another juvenile suffer inside jail. What was appalling to learn was that police up the age of a juvenile before producing him to court 'to avoid legal complications'. It was also revealed that the jail authorities do not even comply with the court orders to send them to correction centres.

The authorities must take these points in their concern and take immediate action. We should not forget that keeping juveniles in jail is tantamount to violation of their legal and human rights. They would undoubtedly be exposed to serious crimes and exploitation in jail blocking their natural growth. There is also a serious contradiction in laws when it comes to distinguish a juvenile from adults. While the Children Act terms the under-16 as minor, the Majority Act, 1875 terms all citizens under 18 years as the same, too. The government must revise the relevant laws in order to remove the inconsistencies.

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