 Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 17: On the directions of Juvenile Justice Committee, Supreme Court of India headed by Justice Madan B. Lokur and under the guidance and patronage of Chief Patron of the J&K State Judicial Academy, Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar, Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and governing body of the State Judicial Academy (Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar, Chairman and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, Member), J&K State Judicial Academy in collaboration with SAVE - the Children, organized one day workshop on Juvenile Justice System for Judicial Officers and Public Prosecutors of Jammu province at Jammu.
Workshop was inaugurated by the Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, Judge, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir (Member, J&K State Judicial Academy) in presence of Sajad Ahmad Khan, Secretary to Government, Social Welfare Department, Sharif Bhat, State Programme Manager, Save the Children, Maharukh Adenwalla, Resource person, Judicial Officers and Public Prosecutors.
Proceedings were conducted by Abdul Rashid Malik, Director, J&K State Judicial Academy. In his welcome address, Director, State Judicial Academy extended warm welcome to the Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, dignitaries on the dais, Judicial Officers and participants. He highlighted statement of objects and reasons behind the Juvenile Justice Act by emphasizing that the main object of the Act is designed to establish a uniform framework for the care, protection, maintenance, welfare, training, education, exploitation and vulnerability to deviant behaviour. Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) have enormous powers. These powers are available to JJBs due to their role and status which go beyond (court). Adjudication of the case is just one of the functions of JJB.
The quality of justice which is to be delivered by the Juvenile Justice Courts is similar to that of superior courts. Considerations for grant of bail under Juvenile Justice Act are different from those under criminal law and bail is generally perceived as a matter of right of the child. Gravity of offence is not a consideration before JJB because it does not award punishment. JJBs work is to decide whether a child has come in conflict with law or not. If yes, then to find out what were the factors which brought the child to a state of delinquency and then to decide further course of action which could reform, mainstream and rehabilitate the child. Juveniles in conflict with law who are already victims of circumstances and neglect face stigma, contempt and hatred.
Courts have duty to proactively eliminate these evils from Juvenile Justice Administration system and the first step is always to take cognizance and only then flows the process of reform. How should police behave with Juveniles in conflict with law is the issue which the JJBs should always addressed and no juvenile should be treated wrongly as adult. He emphasized that in absence of JJBs, the purpose and object of the Act cannot be realized and the need of the hour is that JJBs in the State of Jammu and Kashmir shall be constituted as early as possible.
Sharif Bhat, State Programme Manager, Save the Children gave a brief account of Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) by informing the participant that the scheme is aimed at creating a safety net for protection of all children across the country with special focus on vulnerable children. He gave a brief history of the working of the Save - the Children organization. According to him, the child not only narrates his problem but also the solution provided he is given an opportunity of being heard.
The Workshop concluded with the vote of thanks by the Director, J&K State Judicial Academy. He thanked Justice Madan B. Lokur for his innovative role in rejuvenating the Juvenile Justice System in the country. He also thanked Chief Patron, J&K State Judicial Academy, Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar and Committee on Juvenile Justice for their guidance in organizing the workshop. He thanked Justice Janak Raj Kotwal for inaugurating the workshop and guiding the participants on their delicate role in the implementation of the law. He also thanked the SAVE - Children for their support and cooperation and appreciated the role of the Organization in preventing children from abuse, neglect and exploitation. He also thanked the Judicial Officers and Public Prosecutors for their participatory role in the workshop. |
