MUMBAI: A sessions court recently rejected a woman’s plea seeking custody of her 17-year-old “daughter” who was sent to an observation home after she was allegedly found with commercial quantity of mephedrone in March. The minor is accused of being a peddler and also addicted to drugs. Both “mother” and “daughter” had earlier denied being related to each other. The “mother” later moved court seeking her custody after the Juvenile Justice Board, Dongri, rejected her plea.
Rejecting her appeal, the sessions court said it cannot be ignored that whatever had taken place was when the minor was allegedly in the woman’s custody. “In my opinion, the welfare of the CCL (child in conflict with law) is not safe with her alleged mother. There is every possibility that CCL would come in contact with seller of MD,” the sessions court said.
The woman had submitted the plea claiming the girl had to give her HSC exams. “Even if a juvenile in conflict with law desires to appear for HSC examination, the appellant can apply to the city juvenile justice board, for directing the observation home to take each and every step, which includes providing the study material,” the court said.
The court said releasing the girl in the woman’s custody was not safe for her welfare. “Welfare of a juvenile in conflict with law is one of the objects of the Juvenile Justice Act. Children in observation homes are taken care of in all these aspects.”
