In deciding the age of minor especially of 17 to 18 years the school certificate and the panchayat certificates shall be obtained. The investigating officer should give third preference to the ossification, importantly don't use the Aadhaar as the age proof, said the advocate and legal researcher Swagata Raha. The PHQ has organised the three-day training session on Investigation Skills Building Programme of the police officers on crime against women and children, here on Tuesday.
A detailed study was conducted on various topics by the subject experts, in the training session.
Raha and the ADG crime against women Anvesh Manglam gave the tips to the participants on nuances of evidence collection and also the 'do's and don'ts' related to juvenile crime-from below the age of 12 years and also of 18 years. Raha advised not to go for ossification in first hand because "The ossification gives the age range 2-years-plus-minus, which gives the benefits of doubt to the accused."
The IO has the responsibility to collect the school certificate of first class and 10th class if fails to get the certificate then go for the certificate from the panchayat or local bodies. She also suggested that "While conducting the medical examination of the accused or the victim the IO should not demand ossifications, from their side." UNICEF consultant Shabaz Khan informed about the provisions of Juvenile Justice Act.
He informed, "If a minor of 16 years is been offered or forced to light a cigarette, the accused will be charged for 7 years imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 100,000." He added, "In the same way there is a provision of 7 years imprisonment and the penalty of Rs 100,000 if someone forces a child for begging." ADG Manglam stated that the appointing authority is having the prerogative to appoint someone or not. He was explaining about the children who are freed from the Juvenile Court and get selected in some government jobs.
To take the appointment in the government sector one has to obtain a charter certificate from the police. Khan stressed that on the basis of the criminal record when he or she was the child, the person cannot be denied for the government job. In the inaugural session, the principal secretary home SN Mishra said, "The police officers should investigate in such a manner that the accused should get punished. Also, he should find a way out in which the crime can be prevented before happening."
