The Patna High Court last week condemned the Bihar police for unlawfully arresting a 15-year-old student. The minor was kept in jail for more than two months. Justices Rajeev Ranjan Prasad and Ritesh Kumar heard the habeas corpus plea filed by the student's family. The student was arrested on October 23, 2025. “The I.O arrested the petitioner, described his age as 19 years and produced him before the court from where he was sent to jail,” the bench said. The court also noted that the Magistrate did not check the boy's age before sending him to jail, violating the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The court explained, “If it is found that the petitioner is aged below 18 years, it will be incumbent upon the Jurisdictional Magistrate to send him to the concerned Juvenile Justice Board for age assessment. Considering his Bihar School Examination Board certificate, he should be kept in an observation home and not with adults.” The court said the boy’s right to life and liberty was violated by the police. It also criticized the Magistrate for failing to protect the child from illegal arrest. “Because of misuse of power by the Investigating Agency and failure of the court to protect the right and liberty of the petitioner, he has been made to suffer by way of incarceration for over two and half months,” the judgment stated. The court ruled this was an unlawful arrest and said, “This Court being a Constitutional Court cannot remain a mute spectator.” The State of Bihar was ordered to pay ₹5 lakh in compensation for the mental and physical suffering caused to the young boy. Additionally, the court directed payment of ₹15,000 for legal expenses incurred by the family. The court also asked the Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) to investigate the incident further.