Released on = June 5, 2007, 10:59 am

Press Release Author = Arjun Natarajan

Industry = Law

Press Release Summary = Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere and
today we have a juvenile being branded as a serial killer by media all over India.

Press Release Body = Since 02/06/07, the media in India has been extensively
covering and sensationalizing the case of a nine-year-old juvenile who has allegedly
killed three children in the past one year. The press has branded him as a 'serial
killer'; it has gone to the extent of publishing his photograph with such news items
along with the name of his village.

The press has grossly disregarded Section 21 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and
Protection of Children) Act, 2006 enacted by the Government of India which prohibits
publication of the name, address or any other particulars calculated to lead to the
identification of the juvenile. The said provision also prohibits publication of the
juvenile's picture. However, only if the enquiring authority in the interest of the
juvenile permits such disclosure in writing, then the press is justified in
publishing such news.

In the instant case, it is very unlikely that the enquiring authority gave any such
permission, even if such permission was given, then was it in the interest of the
juvenile?


Web Site = http://

Contact Details = Arjun Natarajan
Student of Law
V.M. Salgaocar College of Law
Panaji, Goa, India
arjun.vmslaw@gmail.com