In Brief
A suo moto matter concerning protection of children in orphanages and police custody in Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The Court directed all Juvenile Justice Boards to take active, proactive steps to protect children in conflict with law, emphasising that bail is the rule for such children and detention in police lockups or jails is prohibited under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The Court ordered the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and state commissions to investigate allegations of children being detained in police custody and tortured, and directed strict nationwide compliance with the Act's protective provisions.
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