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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Booked for naming rape victim in 2016 case, Delhi court acquits Swati Maliwal
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Thursday acquitted MP and former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal in a case alleging that she disclosed the identity of a 14-year-old rape victim who later died. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Neha Mittal also acquitted Bhupender Singh, then DCW's Public Relations Officer, saying the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. Prosecutors alleged that Singh, at Maliwal's behest, sent a copy of a notice issued by her to the Burari police station house officer (SHO) on a WhatsApp group, 'DCW Media', which was later aired by a TV channel. The FIR claimed the notice, in which Maliwal sought details of the rape investigation, was 'intentionally circulated.' 'This court is of the considered opinion that the prosecution has failed to prove the commission of offence under Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, read with Rule 86 of the Juvenile Justice Rules, by the accused persons beyond a reasonable doubt,' the magistrate said. She noted that the sending of the notice on WhatsApp by Singh, or its sharing with a news channel, was not proved. 'Court holds the accused persons not guilty of the commission of said offence. Accused persons, namely Swati Maliwal Jaihind and Bhupender Singh, are hereby acquitted of the offence under Section 74, read with Rule 86 of the Juvenile Justice Act,' she added, citing 'complete failure on the part of prosecution or complainant (Inspector Satyabir Singh) to prove the sending of WhatsApp messages by the accused no. 2 (Singh). Thus, admission made by him, in his statement, if any, cannot discharge the burden of proof placed upon the prosecution.' On claims that a TV channel showed the notice on July 25, 2016, the court said no such notice appeared in the footage and the anchor did not reveal the victim's name. 'Thus, the allegations of the prosecution to this extent appear to be baseless and unfounded,' it said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Court acquits Swati Maliwal, Bhupender Singh in minor survivor's identity disclosure case
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday acquitted Rajya Sabha MP and former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal, along with Bhupender Singh, the then public relations officer of DCW, in a case alleging disclosure of the identity of a 14-year-old sexual assault survivor in 2014, who later died in 2016 due to injuries. Additional chief judicial magistrate Neha Mittal observed that courts have consistently "anonymised" trials involving children to protect their identities. The magistrate stated, "The prosecution failed to prove the commission of the offence under Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, read with Rule 86 of the Juvenile Justice Rules by the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. " The case stemmed from a 2016 FIR filed by Delhi Police, accusing Maliwal and Singh of violating the Juvenile Justice Act by allegedly revealing the identity of the sexual assault survivor through a notice circulated in print, electronic media, and WhatsApp groups. Singh was specifically accused of preparing and circulating the notice. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Gold Rates Today in Delhi | Silver Rates Today in Delhi Maliwal, as DCW chief, had taken cognisance of the case involving a neighbour who sexually assaulted the minor and allegedly forced a corrosive substance down her throat, causing severe internal injuries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn More - How Watching Videos Can Boost Your Income TheDaddest Undo On account of the presence of the consent of the survivor's parents to disclose her name, Section 228A (Prohibition on disclosure of identity of the survivor) of the IPC was dropped, and Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act was added to the case. The prosecution claimed Singh sent the notice revealing the survivor's identity to a WhatsApp group named 'DCW Media' and that the notice was subsequently shown on TV channels. However, the court found no proof that Singh circulated the notice via WhatsApp or shared it with media outlets. Further, footage of the TV broadcast did not reveal the survivor's name or identity. The court noted that the sending of the notice revealing the identity of the minor survivor on WhatsApp by Singh was not proved, nor did the prosecution establish that he shared a copy of the notice with a news channel. The ACJM observed, "Court holds the accused persons not guilty of the commission of said offence. Accused persons, namely Swati Maliwal Jaihind and Bhupender Singh, are hereby acquitted of the offence under Section 74, read with rule 86 of the Juvenile Justice Act. " The court rejected the prosecution's argument that Maliwal could be convicted based on the notice that she sent to the SHO, where the name of the minor was revealed. It said that the police official was in knowledge of all her details, being the one responsible for filing the chargesheet in the FIR. While acquitting the duo, the court, outlining the vulnerability of a child, pointed out that the aim of the legislatures and the endeavour of the courts is to insulate the child against the cruel vagaries of life which it cannot comprehend and lacks capacity to defend against. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
09-08-2025
- Time of India
15 years after murder, Karnataka high court says convict juvenile, orders Rs 50,000 compensation
Bengaluru: Fifteen years after a murder in 2011, the Karnataka high court has ruled that the prime accused, who spent 13 years in prison, was a juvenile at the time and should never have been tried as an adult. The court observation comes as a relief for Channappa, who was convicted in 2018 for killing his sister's husband in Yadgir district. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. The high court upheld the conviction for the crime he committed but voided the sentence, ordering Rs 50,000 compensation for the wrongful trial under the new Juvenile Justice Rules, 2025. Back in April 2011, 16-year-old Channappa from Halisagar in Yadgir district and his friend Saibanna had killed 23-year-old Bheemaraya with a sword after the latter eloped with his sister Lakshmi, defying the family's wishes. They attacked him late night when he was returning from a movie with his friend Bhimanna. Bhimanna was injured in the attack. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Despite being a minor, Channappa was tried as an adult by the Yadgir sessions court and, in 2018, sentenced to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs 2,000. His co-accused, Saibanna, died before the trial concluded. Channappa challenged his conviction on several grounds, including the reliability of prosecution witnesses and discrepancies in the nature of the injuries inflicted. He further maintained that he was only 16 years old at the time and should have been treated as a juvenile. Subsequently, he approached the high court. The division bench of Justices Sunil Dutt Yadav and Ramachandra D Huddar found the trial was flawed from the start and highlighted that authorities should identify juveniles at the first point of contact by adhering to the prescribed rules strictly. This involves verifying the offender's age when police encounter a suspect with doubts about juvenility, and again during remand by a magistrate. The court emphasized the importance of the recently enacted Karnataka State Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2025, which aim to prevent juveniles from being wrongly incarcerated as adults. Given the sentence already served, with Channappa spending 13 years in jail, the bench also deemed it unnecessary to refer the matter to the Juvenile Justice Board under Section 20 of the Act of 2000. Instead, it directed the board to award Channappa a compensation under Rule 6 (xiv) (f) of The Karnataka State Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2025, without requiring a new enquiry into his juvenility or compensation. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Out Of School, Into Adulthood: Voices Of Lost Childhoods Echo At Conclave
New Delhi: It started off like any other event — a quiet room, a screen, a few rows of chairs. But everything changed as soon as a catchy song filled the hall — honest and straight from the heart. It talked about child labour , abuse under POCSO, and the kind of childhood that ends too soon. "Even saying 'POCSO' was tough," one child said. "But now we know what it means, and what to do." What gave the lyrics meaning was the fact that the children who sang them were right there in the room. These weren't just performers. Some had dropped out of school. Some were forced into adulthood too soon. Some were trying to return to school. Some already had. Each of them carried a story that lingered long after the music ended. Like Sunil (name changed), who used to spend his days picking through garbage. School was never an option for him till Childhood Enhancement Through Training and Action (Chetna), an NGO, helped him get into Class III. That was the first time he held a pencil instead of a scrap. Or Kamla (name changed), whose eyes brimmed with emotion even before her story began. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo She dropped out twice — first because her family couldn't afford to keep her in school, and then after she was pushed into child marriage. Now, she's holding on to the hope of starting again. Until then, art and craft are her escape. Far away from her home in Bihar, Anushka (name changed) moved to Delhi just last year. Now, in Class IX, this is the first time she's seeing what a real school looks like. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi On Thursday, many young minds like them came from different corners to know what stakeholders really have to offer. Officials from key departments like the women and child development and education, and child rights activists all gathered for the stakeholder convergence organised by Chetna in collaboration with NACG EVAC. The discussion focused on how systems can better support children like them . A comic book created by kids, "Chotu and Shera," reiterated the same struggles while advocating for child rights. But the question remains, how to strengthen the system on the ground. "We've submitted recommendations to the secretary, including the need for a Delhi State Child Protection Policy, new Juvenile Justice Rules, and a State Creche Policy," said Madhavi Kotwal Samson, state convenor of NACG EVAC. "We're glad the suggestions were received positively." Responding to the proposed suggestions, women and child development secretary Rashmi Singh stressed the importance of creating the right communication channels between children and stakeholders, adding, "No child should be left behind. These children are smiling — and that's what we should aim for ." Sanjay Gupta, director of Chetna, highlighted the importance of such meets in laying a strong foundation. "Delhi, as the capital, has a unique opportunity to showcase exemplary models in child participation, development and protection." However, the way to a brighter future for the kids is fraught with challenges. Pankaj Bhatia, a cluster coordinator of the West Delhi district, said that once, a girl stood before a mobile awareness van with tears in her eyes. The van, part of the Sandesh Vahan initiative, played videos about the right to education and the joy of learning. When asked why she was crying, she simply said, "I want to go to school." But her reality was harsher — she stayed home to care for her younger siblings while her parents worked. It took a determined cluster coordinator, Pankaj Bhatia, to enrol the siblings in an anganwadi. A recent survey conducted by Samagra Shiksha identified around 11,000-12,000 children who dropped out or were never enrolled. "This time, a standard operating procedure was released because documentation was a major hurdle in the previous years. However, despite identifying the children, enrolling them is a separate challenge altogether," said Sunita Yadav, coordinator, out-of-school children, Samagra Shiksha. For Nahar Singh, joint director (retd), SCERT, the issue isn't just about enrolment. It's about the integrity of the system itself. "Where are the remaining kids?" he asked, pointing out that daily attendance in govt schools hovers around 72%. Some of this, he says, is due to manipulations by parents who admit the same child to multiple schools using different names. On the ground, those connected directly to the school system, like Simmi Sachdeva, former principal, NDMC, and OSD to director, NDMC Education, are trying to create ecosystems that make school a place children want to come to.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Time of India
90% of kids rescued last year were from child labour: Report
NEW DELHI: Nearly 90% of the 44,902 children freed from the clutches of exploitation in over 27,000 operations between April 2024 and March this year were rescued from child labour, according to a report. The children were rescued by a collective of voluntary organisations in collaboration with authorities. The highest number of rescue operations (23,530) were related to child labour, followed by cases of sexual exploitation (2,766), and begging (1,092). Telangana reported the highest number of child labour rescues (11,063), followed by Bihar (3,974), Rajasthan (3,847), Uttar Pradesh (3,804), and Delhi (2,588). As many as 2,971 children were rescued from sexual exploitation, with West Bengal standing out at the top with 1,005 rescues followed by Bihar (454), Odisha (232), Maharashtra (194) and Rajasthan (191). The report, prepared by voluntary organisation India Child Protection, has drawn from data gathered by Just Rights for Children, a civil society network of over 250 organisations in across 26 states and UTs working in coordination with law enforcement agencies to combat child labour and trafficking as an organised economic crime. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Focusing on how prosecution acts as a tipping point to end child labour, the report highlighted that legal action taken in 27,320 operations, showed that in majority of cases that is 35% (9,595) FIRs were registered - seen as a the most critical step in ensuring that those who are exploiting are prosecuted. In another 25% (6,959) cases were filed as General Diary entries, which are initial police records. In addition, around 23% of legal actions involved orders from child welfare committees (CWCs) or were filed under Form 17 of Juvenile Justice Rules, both of which focus on immediate care, protection and rehabilitation of rescued children. In 14% cases, challans were issued by labour departments, mainly in cases of child labour, serving as administrative penalties. The report said a very small proportion (less than 1%) were orders from district magistrates or sub-divisional magistrates, and only about 2% of cases had no clear legal action recorded. Just Rights for Children national convener Ravi Kant said despite gaps, prosecution action, crucial in creating strong deterrent against trafficking and child labour, is getting stronger in India. The report also highlighted that 5,809 employers and traffickers were arrested as part of these rescue operations and 85% of these were in child labour-related cases. Telangana, Bihar and Rajasthan reported the highest arrests, while states like UP and MP had fewer arrests despite high rescue numbers - highlighting enforcement gaps. The report also draws attention to missing children data, citing that is not uncommon for children classified as missing to be subsequently rescued from exploitative labour situations. Nearly 11,409 missing children were identified by the civil society network in 11,068 FIRs over 2024-25. Of them, 8,749 children were reported to be traced by March-end this year. States such as West Bengal (3,509), Maharashtra (1,149), and Bihar (1,306) reported the highest rescues of missing children, pointing to active coordination with child tracking systems.
