New Delhi, A recent study has disclosed that over 9,600 children have been wrongfully incarcerated in adult prisons throughout India, highlighting severe lapses in the juvenile justice system.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the research conducted by iProBono titled “Incarceration of Children in Prisons in India” analyzed government data obtained through the Right to Information Act. The findings indicate that between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021, at least 9,681 children were unlawfully held in adult facilities. The study suggests that this number might only be a small representation of the actual situation, as many RTI requests did not receive responses, pointing to major transparency and data withholding issues by state authorities.

The report particularly pointed out Uttar Pradesh, governed by the BJP, as the state with the highest number of these incidents, recording 2,914 children transferred from adult jails to juvenile facilities. This situation reveals a widespread failure to follow Juvenile Justice Board protocols, which are essential for the correct identification and transfer of underage inmates.

Lead researcher Gitanjali Prasad commented on the severity of these findings, noting the critical need for reforms to address these systemic failures. Furthermore, Syed Arshad Mehdi, a prominent social activist with the Bachpan Bachao Andolan, expressed his concerns over the abuse faced by economically disadvantaged and vulnerable youths in these settings.