Congress president Rahul Gandhi has sought an extension of 10 days to reply to a show-cause notice issued by the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights for tweeting a video on June 15 of two minor boys being beaten up and paraded naked in Jalgaon.
On June 15, Mr. Gandhi tweeted a video in which two boys aged 15 and 16 were being beaten up with a belt and paraded naked in Pahur village in Jamner taluka for swimming in a well that allegedly belongs to a man from the upper caste.
On June 19, Amol Jadhav, a resident from Chirabazar, wrote an application to the Commission seeking to “initiate action against Mr. Gandhi” under Section 74 of The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and Section 23 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). Section 74 of the JJ Act (prohibition on disclosure of identity of children) levies punishment of imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or fine which may extend to ₹ 2 lakh or both and Section 23 of POCSO (procedure for media) Act which levies punishment of not less than six months but may extend to one year or fine or both.
On the basis of this, the commission sent a letter to Mr. Gandhi directing to show cause in respect to the content of the said complaint within 10 days. from the date of receipt of this communication.Mr. Gandhi sent a letter on July 2 requesting 10 days to submit his reply. The Hindu has a copy of the letter that reads, “Since your show cause notice is based on the complaint filed by Shri Jadhav, therefore, adhering to the principles of natural justice, I am writing to request you for a certified translation of the complaint to effectively reply to your notice in order to enable me to cooperate fully. Meanwhile, I am also taking steps to get the complaint translated into English by a competent authority. Further, without prejudice to my rights and remedies under the law, I request you for 10 days’ time upon furnishing the translation of the complaint, to submit my detailed reply.”