The HC order says only the official Age Determining Medical Board can determine the age of juvenile. Each district government hospital to have such a Board. No relevant government departments has information about the HC order. Each department is pushing the responsibility on other department.
The High Court had issued an order that only the official Age Determining Medical Board can determine the age of juvenile delinquents and hence Age Determining Board has to be set up at every district in the State. It is 14 months since this order has been passed but it has not been implemented yet. Not only it is not implemented, the relevant government departments are not even aware of such an order. The old practice of a senior doctor of a government hospital determining the age of minor is continuing, reported Kannada Prabha.
The High Court had issued order on April 23, 2016 to Health, Medical and Police Departments that the age of a juvenile has to be determined only by a Age Determining Board consisting of a physiologist, radiologist, dentist and forensic expert. Every government hospital in the district should have such a Board. Anyone other than such a Board determining age of a juvenile will not be recognised as legal. This Order comes into effect immediately.
However, the government department officials have said that such boards are not set up. When inquired a Health Department official denied having any information about such an order by HC. Another official said the responsibility of formulating such Boards is that of Medical Higher Education Department. The Medical Higher Education Department said it does not come under the department’s jurisdiction but is related to Health Department.
