KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
The High Court has asked state government to constitute the Juvenile Justice Board before December 28.
The direction has come after Tanvi Ahuja, a social activist, filed a PIL regarding the same and asked the government to implement Jammu and Kashmir Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act 2013 in letter and spirit.
Besides constituting a board, the division bench of High Court comprising of Justices M H Attar and A M Magrey directed the commissioner secretary social welfare department to file compliance report in this regard on the next date of hearing, December 28. The court has also asked the government to comply with other provisions of the Act and inform the court accordingly.
On May 28, the Court had directed the State to inform it with regard to steps taken in implementation of Jammu and Kashmir Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act 2013. But no action has been taken yet, so the court has issued notice to Chief Secretary of the State, Commissioner Secretary General Administration Department, Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare Department, Director General of Police and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir which was accepted in open court by the State Counsel advocate B A Dar (AAG). The court had asked him to appraise it on next date of hearing about the implementation of the Act.
During the proceedings of PIL, the court had observed: “The concerned authorities are expected to wake up from the deep slumbers at least in the interest of children for whose benefit the act has been legislated by the State Legislature”.
Tanvi further asks for submitting of details of cases pending in all court against juvenile offenders as also the details of Juveniles who are lodged in different jails of the State. She also asks that all the Juveniles who are below 18 years age be released forthwith from the prisons and police lockups and awarded compensation.
