SHILLONG: Supreme Court judge, Justice Madan B Lokur has urged the North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA) to train State police personnel on juvenile justice.
While speaking at the two-day workshop on Sensitization of Police on Juvenile Justice System which got underway at the Yojana Bhavan here on Saturday, he advocated the need to sensitise police units about the provisions of juvenile justice since they are the first ones to come in contact with children in conflict with law, victims of crime and abandoned minors.
Justice Lokur also urged all related departments to work in convergence in order to protect the needs and rights of a child and thereby create a child-friendly environment while delivering justice to them.
The workshop is being organized by the Committee on Juvenile Justice (JJ), Meghalaya Chapter in collaboration with Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Office of Director General of Police, Meghalaya.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Uma Nath Singh, Chief Justice (Acting), High Court of Meghalaya explained that the scheme is not only designed to provide awareness about the provisions of juvenile justice but also to love children. He said that the provisions provide legal and counseling support needed for the protection of the child.
Justice T Nandakumar Singh, Judge, High Court of Meghalaya and Executive Chairman, Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority explained in brief the laws and provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. According to the provisions, the State Legal Services Authorities were to ensure that Juvenile Justice Boards (JJB) and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) are functional with required facilities.
He also mentioned that as per the provisions there shall be a Special Juvenile Justice Police Unit in order to enable police officers who frequently deal with juveniles or are primarily engaged in the prevention of juvenile crime under Juvenile Justice Act to perform their functions more effectively.
Justice S R Sen, Judge, Meghalaya High Court & Chairman, Juvenile Justice Committee, Meghalaya Chapter spoke about the formation of the Juvenile Justice Act, which ensures protection to children.
