Child Rights Body Files Case against Kerala Priest Who Was Held for Abusing Minors

Times Now News
July 10, 2019

https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/crime/article/child-rights-body-files-case-against-kerala-priest-who-was-held-for-abusing-minors/451598

Child rights body files case against Kerala priest who was held for abusing minors

According to a report, the Kerala CPCR said that the boy's home has been working without authorisation, it was closed down by the commission in March 2018. The commission chairperson, P Suresh said that the commission observed that accommodating children secretly without authorisation was a major offence, the higher authorities of the institution will also have to face the legal action as per the Juvenile Justice Act.

In the wake of such incidents of sexual harassment, the commission has directed the police officials and the Social Justice Department to raid and inspect institutions across the state which had been closed down in 2018 for not being registered under the Juvenile Justice Act.

The case came to light when some boys were asked to stand outside the boys' home by the accused for coming after the curfew timings. Reportedly, this is when the children discussed the prolonged abuse that they have been going through. All the children were reportedly minors and they narrated their ordeal to their parents.

As many as 15 children, majorly from underprivileged backgrounds were staying at the boys' home. Report claimed that as per the police complaint, some of the victims were being abused from December 2018.

However, Father George was booked under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, along with Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 under sections 7 (sexual assault), 8 (punishment for sexual assault) and 9(d) (aggravated sexual assault – by management/staff of protection home) and 10 (punishment for aggravated sexual assault).

The provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 apply to all matters concerning children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with the law. This includes apprehension, detention, prosecution, penalty or imprisonment, rehabilitation and social re-integration of children in conflict with the law.

The procedures and decisions relating to rehabilitation, adoption and restoration of children in need of care and protection. The act extends to entire India except for the State of Jammu and Kashmir.