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The Division Bench consisting of The Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya of the Calcutta High Court has awarded a compensation of Rs. 15 lakhs to the family of a 15-year-old who died an unnatural death in police custody at the Mallarpur Police Station of Birbhum district in 2020 in the case of Arijit Adhikary v. State of West Bengal (WPA (P) 13 of 2020).

Facts of The Case:

There were two writ petitions filed before the Hon’ble Court; one was filed by a public interest litigant, Arijit Adhikary, and the other is a suo motu writ petition entertained by the Court.  The matter concerns the unnatural death of a teenager in the Mallarpur Police Station, District – Birbhum.

Judgment Review:

The Court while hearing the PIL noted that “there is a sorry state of affairs in which a young boy of 15 years died in police custody.” Considering the facts of the case and the financial situation of the victim’s family the Court directed the State to pay the amount of Rs. 15 lakhs as compensation. The Court observed that it is the obligation on part of the State to sensitize all its police officers on their duty and responsibilities as under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. 

“The rules are in place but all that is required is to implement the rules and to sensitize the police officers about the duties, which they have to discharge while dealing with the children in conflict with law,” the court said.

Click here to view the judgment

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JUDGMENT REVIEWED BY DIVYA SHREE GN