Mumbai, October 3 (Daily Kiran) : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken notice of an alleged illegal protest in Mumbai on October 2, where minors were reportedly involved. This action comes after images and videos of the minors surfaced on social media, prompting the NHRC to act under Section 12 of the Human Rights Protection Act, 1993.
The complaint referenced social media posts showing a child being lifted above the crowd, allegedly shouting inappropriate slogans. It also claimed that discussions about involving minors had taken place in certain groups and chats beforehand. Concerns were raised that the minors’ status might have been exploited as a shield against potential legal actions by the police.
In response, the NHRC issued notices to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the grievance officer at X Corp in India, and the Principal Secretary of the Maharashtra Department of Women and Child Development.
The commission instructed the Mumbai police to investigate the images, videos, social media content, and other digital evidence. They were also directed to file a First Information Report (FIR) should any cognizable offenses be uncovered. Additionally, police were tasked with determining the circumstances under which the minors participated in the protest and the roles of the event’s organizers, coordinators, and accompanying adults.
The NHRC emphasized the need to secure digital communications related to the alleged groups and chats for forensic examination. This aims to uncover whether the minors’ involvement was premeditated and if their status was used to evade or limit police action.
Furthermore, the NHRC called for an investigation into the applicability of provisions under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, including Sections 75 and 83(2). They also directed inquiries into the dissemination of images and videos involving minors and the social media accounts responsible for sharing them.
X Corp and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology were instructed to preserve relevant digital evidence and ensure compliance with legal obligations regarding children’s safety and content moderation.
The NHRC directed the Maharashtra Department of Women and Child Development to ensure protection, care, and support for the minors under the Juvenile Justice Act. If necessary, children should be presented to the competent Child Welfare Committee for counseling, psychosocial support, care, protection, and rehabilitation.
Throughout this process, the NHRC stressed the importance of safeguarding the identity, privacy, dignity, and best interests of the children involved. They have requested an action-taken report (ATR) from the relevant authorities within a week.
The NHRC clarified that the investigation will be conducted by the appropriate officials, and any accountability will be determined based on the evidence collected during the inquiry.
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