Astonishment gripped the Juvenile Justice Board in Rohtas when a 9-year-old boy was produced in court, saddled with SC/ST Act charges by Bihar Police. The board wasted no time, hauling in the Navhatta SHO for answers and ordering swift removal of the inappropriate allegations.
The root of this blunder traces to a December 2025 kids’ tussle in a Navhatta village. One parent’s police complaint over the scuffle resulted in an FIR naming five accused, inexplicably slapping SC/ST sections on the young boy too. Come February 19, the minor’s court appearance left Magistrate Amit Kumar Pandey and member Tej Bali Singh reeling.
Noting the child’s age at under 10, they flagged the FIR’s deficiencies—no mention of ages anywhere. In a decisive move, the Board instructed immediate delisting of SC/ST charges and a 24-hour explanatory report from the SHO.
Deeming it outright misuse, the Board plans to escalate if police responses disappoint. The SHO explained the FIR stemmed from fight and slur complaints but is puzzled by the SC/ST addition to the juvenile. This follows Bihar Police’s Darbhanga debacle, where mass SC/ST filings against villagers drew national scorn.
Such incidents raise serious questions about FIR drafting protocols and officer awareness of juvenile laws. Advocacy groups demand accountability, emphasizing the SC/ST Act’s role in combating real caste-based violence, not trivial child disputes. With the 24-hour deadline looming, Rohtas police face mounting pressure to set the record straight and restore credibility.