Patna High Court File Photo
By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: The Patna High Court has taken a stern view of the illegal arrest of a minor student by the police and his subsequent detention in jail for two months. Hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the student’s family, a Division Bench headed by Justice Rajeev Ranjan Prasad declared the arrest unconstitutional and directed the state government to pay ₹5 lakh as compensation to the victim.
The case relates to a clash between two groups in Madhepura district. Following the registration of an FIR, the police arrested the minor on October 23, 2025, incorrectly showing his age as 19 years in official records. He was produced before a court and sent to jail. No evidence was found against him, nor was any chargesheet filed, yet he remained incarcerated for nearly two months.
The court observed that it is committed to the protection of constitutional rights and cannot remain a mute spectator when an officer abuses his powers. It held the arrest to be illegal and a grave violation of the student’s personal liberty.
The Bench made it clear that the compensation amount must be recovered from the erring officials. It also directed the state to pay ₹15,000 to the petitioner towards litigation costs and ordered that the entire amount be recovered from the responsible officers within six months. The Director General of Police has been instructed to conduct an inquiry and initiate action against the negligent officials.
During the hearing, the court raised serious questions over the role of the Madhepura district police and the magistrate concerned, stating that the magistrate too had failed in safeguarding the student’s liberty, forcing him to suffer illegal detention for over two months.
Terming the arrest and prolonged incarceration of the minor as a gross injustice, the High Court further directed the state government to conduct an administrative inquiry against the police personnel involved and take strict action for their negligence, while reiterating the order of ₹5 lakh compensation to the affected family.
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