Minor Wrongly Incarcerated in Adult Jail for 20 Days Due to Documentation Error
In a serious administrative lapse, a minor accused in a murder case in Odisha's Nabarangpur district was allegedly lodged in an adult sub-jail for 20 days after being treated as an adult due to incorrect age details in official records. The incident occurred under Maidalpur police limits, where the juvenile, though legally entitled to be kept in a juvenile home, was sent to judicial custody at the Nabarangpur sub-jail from February 24 to March 16.
Routine Inspection Uncovers Critical Error
The issue came to light during a routine jail inspection by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) on March 5. During the visit, the minor revealed that he was actually born in 2009 and is currently 17 years old, contradicting police records that showed his year of birth as 2004. This revelation prompted immediate verification of his age by authorities.
According to jail superintendent Debendra Thati, the minor was subsequently shifted to a child care institution in Bhawanipatna following orders from the Juvenile Justice Board. This transfer occurred after the minor's family submitted his correct school certificate as proof of age, following instructions from the district judge.
Background of the Murder Case
Sources indicate the murder took place on February 22 in a village under Maidalpur police station. The incident was reportedly triggered by past enmity and an argument that erupted following comments about the victim purchasing a new vehicle. On February 23, police arrested seven members of the minor's family along with three others and forwarded them to court, which remanded them in judicial custody. The minor was among those arrested.
Police had reportedly relied on a school admission register showing the year of birth as 2004, leading them to treat the accused as an adult. Maidalpur police IIC Yugala Kishore Sabar suggested the discrepancy may have occurred due to an error in recording the birth year in school documents, possibly writing 2004 instead of 2009.
Legal Experts Express Grave Concerns
Legal experts have raised serious concerns over this procedural lapse. Government counsel Jhadeswar Khadanga emphasized that police must obtain proper documentary proof before forwarding an accused to court. "A hasty investigation led to a minor being treated as an adult and spending 20 days in jail unnecessarily," he stated, adding that accountability must be fixed for this error.
The case highlights critical issues in juvenile justice administration and record-keeping procedures in Odisha's criminal justice system. The unnecessary incarceration of a minor in an adult facility raises questions about verification protocols and the protection of juvenile rights during criminal investigations.
This incident underscores the importance of accurate documentation and thorough verification processes, particularly when dealing with minors in the justice system. The transfer to appropriate juvenile facilities only after judicial intervention points to systemic gaps that require urgent attention from law enforcement and judicial authorities.
