‘CJP leaders can face legal action for involving minor in their illegal protest’: NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo

NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo said that CJP leaders and parents of the minor CJP protestor could be held legally liable for using her in the protests.
NHRC member, Priyank Kanoongo and CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Abhijeet Dipke and Sourav Das (Images via X)

Legal trouble might be brewing for Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders as well as the parents of the 14-year-old girl who was suddenly shot to fame after insulting PM Modi during the CJP protests in June this year. The girl herself is facing legal action for insulting and abusing Hindu Gods in the videos she posted online.

According to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and former chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Priyank Kanoongo said that CJP leaders can face legal action for involving the minor girl in their ‘illegal protest’.

The former chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Priyank Kanoongo, addressed the controversy surrounding the minor girl on Saturday (5th September). In a video posted on X, Kanoongo said that the CJP leaders can be made legally liable under Section 83(2) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The provision criminalises the use of minors by an adult or a group of adults for illegal activities.

Kanoongo said that the provision applies to CJP leaders because the minor girl was involved in their protest, which was illegal. He said the protest extended beyond the period for which the Delhi Police had granted permission.

He added that since the girl is a minor and is very active on social media, the social media platforms hosting her accounts can also be made liable. Kanoongo said that if her parents are found to have deliberately allowed her social media accounts to be misused, they can also be held accountable under the law.

At the same time, the NHRC members cautioned against disclosing the identity of the minor girl, including her name and pictures, as it violates the law.

Notably, an FIR was recently filed against the minor CJP protester and her father, Sanjay Azad, for making social media posts insulting Hindu Gods and hurting religious sentiments. The FIR was filed based on a complaint filed by Advocate-on-record, Amit Sachdeva. The complaint dated 5th September sought legal action over two social media posts insulting Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Goddess Saraswati, and Goddess Durga.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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