Agencies dealing with juvenile offenders should ensure that their identity is not revealed and only a daily diary report should be filled if he/she has been charged with a petty crime.
After the CBI arrest of a high school student of Ryan International School, Bhondsi in connection to the sensational murder of eight year old Pradyuman Thakur people across the country are deliberating upon the code of legal conduct applicable to juvenile offenders.
Gurgaon District Legal Services Authority (DLSA)’s seminar on Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act) that was organised yesterday to apprise all stakeholders of the intricacies involved in the subject could hence not have been more aptly timed.
Addressing the seminar that was held at the HIPA Complex in Gurgaon district and sessions judge, Harnam Singh Thakur said, “Today child safety is a burning concern and there needs to be more public awareness on their legal rights. All agencies related to child safety should come together and discuss essential steps that need to be taken to ensure their wellbeing and security. The judicial system, administration and child welfare societies should come together to spread the word on child safety.”
DLSA spokespersons stated that agencies dealing with juvenile offenders should ensure that their identity is not revealed and if it is a petty crime that he/she has been charged with only a daily diary report should be filled. They reiterated that FIRs should only be filed in the event of heinous offences.
“A juvenile should be treated with care and sensitivity. Police officers should not apprehend a juvenile in uniform and they should not be taken to the police station. They should be provided with a child-friendly ambience and proper counseling,” Narender Singh, chief judicial magistrate and secretary, DLSA, said.
Singh added that once a juvenile is apprehended, a social investigation report (SIR) should be prepared by the probation officer and he/she should not be treated as an offender.
“There should be better coordination between the agencies while dealing with juvenile offenders. Proper counselling is essential to ensure that juveniles don’t repeat their crimes,” said Singh.
Special judge of Gurgaon Children’s Court JS Kundu, 35 police officers, one police nodal officer, 15 panel advocates of the DLSA, 3 NGOs, CWC officials, representatives of the education department and the officer for child and women welfare were among the dignitaries who attended the orientation seminar.
