Minor and maids, and the torture
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: July 18, 2014 -

The severe wounds on the back :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

The news report on the torture of two minor sisters employed as maids by their ‘Madam’ who is none other than a lady police officer in the rank of Sub-Inspector in the Manipur Police Department and whose husband is said to be an advocate was indeed very depressing.

Coming at a time when concerted efforts are being made not only by various NGOs but also by the Government to stop child labour and ensure the rights of children, who are future of the nation, the offences committed by the lady police officer and her advocate husband should not be taken lightly as the incident has clearly revealed the ‘hidden shame’ on how some of the supposed guardians of laws and justice in the State are flouting the legislations and rules enacted or amended from time to time for the welfare of the society and its people for their own conveniences.

It would be foolish to assume that the lady police officer and her advocate husband are ignorant about the existing laws like Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act or Juvenile Justice Act as well as other relevant legal provisions under India Penal Code which forbid employment of young children below 14 years of age, not to speaking of the torture or subjecting them to physical and mental harassment on alleged charge of not performing their work properly.

And, it would a fallacy again to live under the impression that the accused couple would be lying low from trying their hands from twisting the same laws and regulations to wriggle out of the charges leveled against them.

Nonetheless, it is good to know that taking cognizance of the offences committed at least by the lady police officer under section 23 of Juvenile Justice Act, which pertains to punishment for cruelty to juvenile or child, and 370 IPC that relates to buying or disposing of any person as a slave and the punishment with imprisonment for seven years, the Juvenile Justice Board, Imphal West has viewed the matter with the seriousness it deserves so promptly.

A day after the news reports on the escape of one of the tortured young girls that led to the subsequent rescue of the other girl by volunteers of Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) was flashed in the newspapers, the Board in exercise of the power conferred under Rule 10 (b) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007 has issued an order directing the Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) of the Lamphel Police Station to investigate into the case and submit its finding report on or before July 30.

Although the order of the Board, which is based on the said news reports, has mentioned the offences that were allegedly committed by the lady police officer, we, however, feel that her advocate husband should also be held equally responsible for the same offences, if not, for more serious offences, for he is the one who should be fighting for the rights and justice of the victimized girls but he prefers to remain quiet despite witnessing the cruelty and inhuman treatment meted out to the young girls by his ‘better half’ every day.