Legal forum alleges violation of human rights in Asom jails

Guwahati, June 25 (UNI) The Legal Assistance Forum today alleged violation of human rights in Asom, specially in case of juvenile offenders and mentally ill persons.

Talking to reporters here, president of the forum said the forum had organised Lok Adalats at three central jails in the state for the first time last week and would ensure that those who can not afford to pay fees were not denied justice.

About 30 petty cases were amicably settled in the Lok Adalats at Tezpur, Jorhat and Nagaon jails, he added.

Talking about the forum's visit to the jails, Mr Hansaria said they came across a number of instances in which juvenile offenders were lodged with hardcore criminals.

He said, '' About 11 minors in Nagaon and four in Jorhat are being kept with the regular criminals when there are strict instructions that minors must be kept at juvenile homes. '' He informed that the district judges have initiated steps to ascertain the exact number of such children through medical tests and the forum would soon make a formal representation to the High Court and the state government in this regard.

Besides the jails, the forum visited the LGBR Institute of Mental Health at Tezpur where it came across at least 50 cured inmates, who had been abandoned by their families.

Mr Hansaria said, '' Society and the state must take responsibility of these abandoned people. We will approach the government and NGOs to help them. '' He cited the instance of one Kanailal Chakrabarty who has been in the asylum for 51 years even after being cured as he had no takers.

He informed that the forum also visited the Jorhat Juvenile Observation Home and felt the need for authorisation of the three Juvenile Justice Boards in the state to conduct circuit courts at the district headquarters as a single board has far flung places under its jurisdiction.

Mr Hansaria said these violations of rights of the inmates would be taken up with the National Human Rights Commission.

The forum had also arranged for lawyers for undertrails who can not afford one, he added.

The senior advocate informed that an Asom chapter of the forum had also been set up with Mr Mrinal Choudhury as the president and Apurba Sharma as the secretary.

UNI SG SJC VA GC1338