The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of a complaint alleging that minor children associated with a purported coaching centre in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, were being scripted and repeatedly used in objectionable and politically charged social media videos.
The Commission has directed the Etah police to identify the children involved and ensure that appropriate measures are taken for their protection.
The complaint also questioned whether the children’s parents or guardians had given consent for their participation and whether the minors were being exploited for the creation and circulation of social media content. The NHRC Bench presided over by Priyank Kanoongo has issued notices to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Etah, District Magistrate, Etah, Managing Director and Country Head, Meta India and Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The Commission has directed the Etah police to identify the children involved and ensure that appropriate measures are taken for their protection and counselling. The police have also been asked to ascertain the persons controlling the Instagram account through which the videos were circulated. The NHRC has further directed the police to examine the role of adults involved in scripting, recording, uploading or otherwise facilitating the content featuring the minors. If the inquiry establishes that a cognizable offence has been committed, the Commission has directed that appropriate legal action be taken, including registration of an FIR. The NHRC has emphasised that the children should be treated primarily as minors requiring protection and assessment, rather than as subjects of the investigation. It has directed that the investigation focuses on identifying the adults or other persons responsible for scripting, creating, uploading, controlling, or commercially exploiting the content.
The children were featured in videos circulated through an Instagram account, raising concerns over their dignity, privacy and psychological well-being, according to the complaint.
