Minor delivers baby in Kharkhoda, DPO seeks action under POCSO, child marriage Acts

In a disturbing case from Kharkhoda, a minor girl delivered a baby, prompting the District Protection Officer (DPO) to recommend registration of a case under the POCSO Act and the Child Marriage Act. The case has also exposed alleged police inaction, despite being informed of the girl’s age.

The baby, born on May 23 at PGIMS, Rohtak, died under suspicious circumstances within 15 days. Prior to the delivery, the girl had been taken to the Community Health Centre (CHC) Kharkhoda on May 22, where health officials flagged her minor status and informed both the police and the DPO.

The police initially visited the CHC, recorded statements from the girl’s family — who claimed her Aaadhar card age was incorrect and original documents were in Bihar — and then closed the case without further action.

However, DPO Rajni Gupta launched her own probe after learning the police had shelved the matter. She said, “It is clearly found in the records that both the girl and the boy were underage at the time of marriage. The Health authorities informed about it timely, but no action was initiated. I have written to the Kharkhoda police to lodge a case under the Child Marriage Act and POCSO Act.”

Gupta sought a detailed report from the SHO, but did not receive it, forcing her to escalate the matter to Commissioner of Police and ADGP Mamta Singh. Only then was a report submitted, and the girl’s family was summoned for questioning.

Documents verified during the inquiry confirmed the girl’s date of birth as October 22, 2007, according to her 9th class school certificate. The boy, who studied up to 5th class in Rohtak, was born on April 1, 2005 — also a minor at the time of their marriage on April 24, 2024.

Meanwhile, Kharkhoda SHO Inspector Devender Singh said he had no information in the case as he had just taken charge of the police station on Wednesday.

The police report inaccurately stated that the delivery took place at CHC, Kharkhoda, and declared no cognisable offence was found, despite school records proving both individuals were underage.