Latest news with #JuvenileJusticeBoards
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Portal for information on childcare launched
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Odisha govt on Monday launched a web portal, 'Amari Sishu', to upload real-time information about child nutrition and to strengthen childcare, protection and rehabilitation services across the state. Inaugurating the web portal, deputy CM Pravati Parida said the portal will facilitate seamless coordination among various all stakeholders in the child protection ecosystem. "This digital initiative is expected to enhance transparency and accessibility of child welfare services while streamlining the data management process. It is a significant step towards more efficient and effective child welfare management in Odisha," Parida said. The digital platform will serve as a unified interface connecting key organisations, including the district child protection unit, child welfare committees, Juvenile Justice Boards and child care institutions, she added.
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
HC seeks reply from Centre and Delhi on cases pending in 7 juvenile justice boards
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and the Delhi government over a public interest litigation (PIL) flagging high pendency before Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) in the Capital. The HC has sought replies from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Delhi government's Department of Women and Child Development, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, and others. According to the PIL, moved by I-Probono (India) Legal Services, a non-profit social justice organisation, through its authorised signatory Binita Saket Modi, a total of 206 petty offence inquiries have been pending in four of the seven JJBs in Delhi, beyond the mandated six-month period, even though the law prescribes automatic termination of such cases. The bench, comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, on Wednesday issued the notice to the authorities and posted the matter next for consideration on September 24. The bench also suggested that the petitioner make an appropriate representation before the JJB Committee of Delhi HC. The organisation, which also offers psychosocial support to children and works closely with the child welfare committee, stated in their petition that at one JJB, '31 petty offence cases have remained unresolved for over a year, while three cases have been pending for over five years, demonstrating extreme administrative negligence.' Additionally, in the seven JJBs of Delhi, '978 cases of serious offences and 1274 cases of heinous offences have been pending for more than six months, despite the statutory mandate for their expeditious disposal. Alarmingly, 284 cases of serious and heinous offences have been pending for over five years, exposing the utter disregard for the spirit and intent of the JJ Act [Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015],' the PIL notes. Another 284 cases of serious/heinous offences have been pending for over five years, said the PIL. While there is no specified time limit for completion of inquiry in cases of serious/heinous offences, however, courts have repeatedly cautioned that such extensions ought to be granted keeping in mind the spirit of the JJ Act, giving the same a purposive meaning. The PIL has also flagged that JJBs have 'failed to furnish quarterly reports to the CJM (chief judicial magistrate), CMM (chief metropolitan magistrate), and District Magistrate' as is required under provisions of the Act, and that 'additionally, there is no evidence of quarterly reviews being conducted by CJMs or CMMs, in contravention of' provisions of the Act.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HC asks for Centre, Delhi govt replies on PIL over pendency in JJBs
New Delhi, The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and Delhi government on a plea alleging delay in disposal of cases in Juvenile Justice Boards. A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued notices on the PIL filed by iProbono India Legal Services and asked the national and Delhi commissions for protection of child rights for their responses on the issue. The court posted the hearing on September 24 and asked the petitioner to also make a representation to the court's committee on juvenile justice. The PIL alleged a "shockingly poor" adherence to the strict timelines for inquiry by the Juvenile Justice Boards, resulting in a severe miscarriage of justice and jeopardising children's right to a fair and speedy trial. The plea said under Section 14 of Juvenile Justice Act, an inquiry in respect of all offences should be completed within four months from the date of first production of the child before the board, with a maximum extension of two months, and for petty offences, if such an inquiry was not completed within six months, it must automatically be terminated. Referring to data collected through RTI, the PIL pointed out "abysmally low disposal rates of the inquiries before the Juvenile Justice Boards", partly owing to the fact that Delhi has only seven JJBs against the statutory mandate of eleven. Delhi government, it said, was under obligation to constitute in terms of Section 4 of the JJ Act. The pendency has rendered nugatory the aims and objectives providing children in conflict with law timely rehabilitation and reintegration into society for which the law was enacted, it added. The petitioner, therefore, sought directions to the chief judicial magistrates and chief metropolitan magistrates to periodically review the pendency of cases of the board and submit a compliance report before the court.
