By Our Reporter
Shillong: The juvenile justice system prevailing in the Northeastern states including Meghalaya needs urgent review, said Supreme Court Judge Justice TS Thakur.
The situation of juveniles in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection is precarious, he said adding the administration of juvenile justice remains deplorable in these states.
Justice Thakur was addressing a day-long seminar for designated juveniles, child welfare officers and others conducted by the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority here on Saturday.
Expressing concern over welfare of juvenile offenders, Justice Thakur stressed on the need to deal with children in need of care and protection as well as those in conflict with law.
Addressing the gathering in the presence of Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Justice AK Goel and Judge Incharge of Meghalaya, Justice T Vaiphei, Justice Thakur said, “We have to be concerned about those innocent minds that have been drawn into a conflict with the law not knowing how and why it happened”.
He also stated that these unfortunate children need to be reintegrated into the society.
The programme was also attended by the State Chief Secretary WMS Pariat, DGP N Ramchandran, Advocate general KS Kynjing, Director of NEPA AK Mathur, District and Sessions Judge of the Shillong, Judge District Council Court, Judicial Officers, members of the Police department, Child Welfare Committee members and Probation Officers as well as the members of prominent NGOs. Later, during the interaction session, resource persons discussed on the role of police in the juvenile justice system, the role of NGOs in establishing linkages in the juvenile justice system, prevention of juvenile delinquency and how NGOs can work towards reducing vulnerabilities faced by children and role of Welfare Officer, parents and others as far as rights of children are concerned.