KOHIMA: Senior Supreme Court Judge and Chairman of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) Justice Altamas Kabir maintained that it was mandatory for every district in a state to have a Juvenile Justice Board as per the Juvenile Act 2000.
Speaking at the seminar on ‘Juvenile Justice: Role of Legal Services Authority’ here at the Police Conference Hall in Chumukedima yesterday, Justice Kabir asserted that it was important to have a Justice Juvenile Board as it would be difficult for any judge to switch between the dual role of chief magistrate in an adult court and a principal juvenile justice board.
In this regard, Justice Kabir said the State Legal Service Authority and High Court should ensure that each district had a Juvenile Board.
Speaking on the rights and implementation of the Act, justice Kabir said the program was basically aimed for judicial, tribal leaders and members of bar who may possibly be completely and fully aware of the provision that are there in the juvenile justice delivery system.
He pointed out that children constitute 42 per cent of the country’s 1.25 billion population and were not having the same benefits.
Briefing on Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 and amended on 2006, he said the Act has two main objects where any child under 18 years of age, cannot be tried in any regular court but in a juvenile justice board.
Some GBs of Dimapur GB association referred to the problems that has risen due to implementation of Indian law instead of customary law as they were of the view that customary law gives early justice to the people for which justice Kabir admitted that some kind of integration should be done so that both laws could blend. On the state’s request for allotment of customary court in each district and village, Just Kabir said the matter was within the purview of the state and high court. (UNI)
