The state commission for protection of child rights has told Jadavpur University that it has the “jurisdiction” to take appropriate action in a case involving
the death of a 17-year-old JU student because he was a minor.
The commission on Saturday sent a letter to the university’s registrar, Snehamanju Basu, who in a communication on August 22 questioned the commission’s “jurisdiction” and asked the commission “not to proceed any further with the show-cause notices” in connection with the death of the student.
A letter signed by Sudeshna Roy, the chairperson of the commission says: “You (the JU registrar) have stated that the university is not primarily dedicated to ‘child’. However, as per record, the deceased victim who was 17-plus years old, is considered as a child under the Indian laws as well as the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child), where India is a signatory....”
“The commission is a statutory body and is empowered by the laws to take appropriate action in any child rights violation cases. You need to update yourself with the said laws.”
According to the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act 2005, the commission has been empowered to investigate any child rights violation happening within the state.
An official of the commission said: “We are surprised that they (Jadavpur University authorities) are not aware of what the commission’s powers are.”
Roy told The Telegraph: “We have explained why the commission has jurisdiction over the case and can question them”.
Asked about the response of the commission, registrar Basu said: “We will first consult our legal experts and then decide on the response.”