Cops Didn't Tell Your Parents You Were Detained — Is That Legal?
For minors, notifying a parent or guardian isn't optional. For adults, it's still a right you can actively invoke.
If you're under 18, the Juvenile Justice Act specifically requires police to inform a parent or guardian without delay — this isn't discretionary.
If you're an adult, you have the right to have someone informed of your arrest and location (BNSS Sec. 48 and the D.K. Basu guidelines) — but you generally need to actively ask for this, it isn't always automatic in practice.
The practical lesson either way: state clearly, early, and calmly that you want a specific person informed — repeating this request if it isn't immediately honoured is a normal, expected thing to do.
Mandatory parent/guardian notification for minors
Right to have someone informed of your arrest and location
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What if I don't know a lawyer to call?
Related questions
Police Are Trying to Detain You — Here's What Actually Applies
You don't lose your rights the second an officer walks up to you. Detention has rules, and most of them favour you more than you'd think.
Cops Keeping You in Custody for Hours? Here's the 24-Hour Rule
There's a hard legal ceiling on how long you can be held without seeing a magistrate — and it's shorter than most people think.
Can You Actually Get Arrested Just for Holding a Sign?
Short answer: not lawfully, not just for the sign itself. Peaceful expression is a right, not a favour.
Heading to a protest? Know the full picture first.
This FAQ covers the specifics — our complete guide covers everything about police stops, arrest and detention in one place.
Open the Full GuideAdhikar is an independent citizen-awareness platform, not a Government of India website and doesn't take a position on the NEET protests themselves — this is general information about rights every student already has, not legal advice for a specific situation. For that, contact a lawyer or the free legal aid helpline (15100).