[Bidar sedition] Karnataka HC seeks details of action taken against police officers who wore uniform, firearms while questioning minor students

The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the State government to ensure that a senior officer of the Police department files an affidavit giving details of the action initiated against police officers, who wore uniform and firearms, while interrogating minor students of Shaheen Education Society in Bidar, last year..The order was passed by Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice NS Sanjay Gowda while dealing with a public interest litigation (PIL) petition concerning questioning of minor students over a play staged by them in relation to the Citizenship Amendment Act. The direction was rendered after examining the photographs produced by the petitioner in this regard. "Primafacie, it appears to us that, from perusing annexure M, these school children (2 boys and 1 girl) are seen interrogated by 5 police persons, out of which 4 are in full uniform and two are seen with fire arms," the Court observed. ."Was the Investigating Officer in civil clothes?", Karnataka HC in matter concerning questioning of minor students in Bidar Sedition case.Further, the Court opined that Police questioning students in uniform is a serious case of violation of rights of children under various provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and related Rules. .The Court also directed the State government to consider issuing directions to Police officers to ensure that such violation of rights of children does not happen again.."What are police officers in uniform doing? This can't go on like this. Why are children subjected to this. What is the explanation for children being interrogated by police men in uniform. What is the explanation for other officers being there? See the photographs. This is contrary to law."Adding on, the Court asked, "Students were interrogated by policemen with arms. Is it permissible in law?"Subsequently, the Court went through the affidavit filed by DYSP, in which the Court noted that the officer had accepted the correctness of the photographs. However, he did not address the Court on the photographs annexed by the petitioner. "See the brazenness of the man. We will ask the police officer to explain this. We will ask officer to remain present for the next hearing," the Court said. .Last year, the High Court had issued notice in the PIL, but had refused to pass interim orders, stating that the interrogation of students cannot be stopped altogether..During one of the earlier hearings, the High Court had also questioned whether the police was sufficiently trained to interrogate the students. To this, the State had replied that the students were merely counselled, and not interrogated..The genesis of the case was in a complaint filed by a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) alleging that a play staged by classes 4, 5 and 6 students of Shaheen School on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) contained dialogue that insulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi..Subsequently, the State Police authorities had filed an FIR against the management of the school. The main allegation against the school administration was that it facilitated the spreading of false information about the newly passed CAA, spread negative opinions about the Parliament's laws among students, and further contributed to communal tension.The Headmistress and a mother of a student were subsequently arrested. They were later enlarged on bail, while the school management also successfully obtained anticipatory bail from the district court in Bidar.