State Level Consultation for Juvenile Justice Held by WCD Dept, Unicef

Cuttack, August 26: To explore the possible ways of effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2015 a one day State Level Consultation has been organized by Women and Child Development Department, Government of Odisha and the UNICEF under the aegis of the High Court of Orissa in the auditorium of Odisha Judicial Academy.

The Consultation was inaugurated in virtual mode on 26th August, 2023 by Justice Subhasis Talapatra, Chief Justice, High Court of Orissa in the presence of Justice Debabrata Dash, Judge, High Court of Orissa and Chairperson, Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Orissa, Judges of the High Court of Orissa and William Hanlon Jr, Chief of Field Office for Odisha, UNICEF.

In the inaugural session Justice Debabrata Dash, Judge and Chairperson, Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Orissa, delivering the welcome address, highlighted the objective of the consultation and said such deliberations would lead to effective solutions for children in conflict with law and in need of care and protection. He emphasized on prompt response to the problems involving children and highlighted the importance of pro-activeness of all the stakeholders.

William Hanlon Jr, Chief of Field Office for Odisha, UNICEF emphasized on the need of diversion from traditional methods and discussed on prevention, non-custodial alternatives, rehabilitation and restorative practices and right of children to fair trial. He stressed upon the need of counseling and psycho-social support to the deprived children and said UNICEF is committed to the cause of child care.

Speaking on the occasion Keshav Kumar, IPS (Retd.) shared his experience as a police officer in cases involving children in conflict with law.

Mandakinee Kar, Chairperson of Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights informed the role of State Commission in effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice Legislation.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Justice Subhasis Talapatra flagged the issue of care to children and justice to children in conflict with law. He deprecated the practice of interrogation in cases involving children in conflict with law and said instead of interrogation the investigating agencies should have conversation with the children. The Chief Justice urged the Judicial Officers and the functionaries under the Juvenile Justice Legislature to be sensitive in dealing with the children. He emphasized the need of homely environment for the children in conflict with law instead of custodial measures.

Extending vote of thanks Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, Judge, High Court of Orissa and Member, Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Orissa said we need to nurture the children for a better society.

The Consultation was attended by the Principal Magistrates of Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), Secretaries of District Legal Services Authorities, representatives of SJPUs, the DCPOs and Superintendents of Observation Homes, OSCPS, representatives of W & CD and UNICEF, NGOs and members from Civil Society Organizations also attended the consultation.