The Patna High Court has delivered a strong rebuke to the state police. The court ordered the Bihar government to pay substantial compensation to a teenage boy who suffered illegal imprisonment. This case highlights serious lapses in police procedure and juvenile justice.
Court Slams Police Overreach, Awards Compensation
A division bench of Justices Rajeev Ranjan Prasad and Ritesh Kumar issued the landmark ruling. The court directed the state to pay Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the victim, Md Jahid. Additionally, the government must pay Rs 15,000 in litigation costs within one month.
The bench also ordered Jahid's immediate release from the juvenile care home where he was held. The court allowed a writ petition of habeas corpus filed by the victim challenging his detention.
A Case of Clear Exoneration Ignored
The troubling sequence of events began with an FIR lodged at Puraini police station in Madhepura district. Khusboo Praveen filed the complaint alleging assault, attempt to murder, and theft. Police named Jahid among several accused in the case.
However, the investigation took a clear turn. On September 1 last year, police submitted their final report before the magistrate's court in Madhepura. The report exonerated Jahid and nine other accused. Investigators found no evidence linking them to the alleged crimes.
DIG's Directive Leads to Illegal Arrest
Despite this exoneration, the Deputy Inspector General of Kosi range issued a surprising directive. Twenty-five days after the exoneration, the DIG ordered the Madhepura Superintendent of Police to ensure "further actions to arrest all remaining accused expeditiously."
Police acted on this direction with a late-night raid. On October 23 last year, around 11:30 PM, officers arrested Jahid. Police presented him before a judicial magistrate as a 19-year-old adult. The court remanded him to judicial custody based on this incorrect age representation.
Juvenile Status Finally Acknowledged
Jahid fought back through legal channels. He filed a criminal writ petition challenging his arrest and detention. The petition asserted his true age as 15 years, supported by his Matriculation certificate from the Bihar School Examination Board.
Only after this legal challenge did authorities verify his age and transfer him to a juvenile home. By then, he had already endured significant illegal detention.
Court Condemns Police Presumption of Guilt
The High Court bench delivered scathing observations about police conduct. The judges held that the DIG's direction to arrest an already exonerated person was based on mere assumption. This amounted to a presumption of guilt by a superior police officer.
The court declared this action in "utter violation of the cardinal principles of criminal law." The bench emphasized that such overreach cannot be tolerated in a system governed by rule of law.
Fundamental Rights Violation Established
The ruling firmly established that Jahid's arrest and detention violated his fundamental rights. Specifically, the court found infringement of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.
Relying on several Supreme Court judgments, the bench determined this was a fit case for awarding compensation. The Rs 5 lakh amount serves as both redress for the victim and a message against such violations.
This case underscores the critical importance of proper police procedure. It also highlights the vulnerability of juveniles within the justice system when protocols are ignored. The Patna High Court's decisive action sets an important precedent for protecting citizens' rights against unlawful state action.
