Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
The Juvenile Justice-cum-POCSO Committee of the High Court of Jharkhand on Sunday, in collaboration with the Judicial Academy Jharkhand, UNICEF Jharkhand, and the Department of Women, Child Development & Social Security (DWCD & SS), hosted a State Level Consultation titled “Ten Years of The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 – A Decade of Implementation and the Way Forward.” The event took place at the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Auditorium, Judicial Academy, Jharkhand.
The programme commenced with a ceremonial lamp-lighting ceremony led by Chief Guest Hon’ble. Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jharkhand, alongside Hon’ble Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, Chairperson of the JJ-cum-POCSO Committee and Executive Chairman of JHALSA. Other esteemed dignitaries included high court judges, Uma Shankar Singh (Secretary, DWCD & SS), and Dr. Kaninika Mitra (Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, Jharkhand).
In his address, Chief Justice Sonak described the Juvenile Justice Act as a vital “framework of trust” necessary for building a compassionate society. He urged stakeholders to focus on child restoration and mentorship to support a “Viksit Bharat,” echoing Wordsworth and Roosevelt to emphasize that children form society’s foundation.
Hon’ble Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad noted that the 2015 Act prioritizes reform, rehabilitation, and vocational training over punishment. He called for speedier case resolutions, strengthened Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) and Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), and addressed emerging challenges like child-on-child offences.
Dr. Kaninika Mitra stressed reaching vulnerable communities, involving children in decisions affecting them, and linking CWCs with Panchayati Raj institutions to ensure the system serves the last child. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks from Mr. Uma Shankar Singh.
A highlight of the event was a skit and musical performance by children guided by the Ashiyana Foundation, emphasizing the need to bridge the gap between principle and practice. Dignitaries also released a publication detailing the decade-long progress across state departments.
The consultation featured three thematic sessions chaired by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Anubha Rawat Choudhary, and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Prasad. Experts discussed child-friendly policing, psychosocial support, education, community-based care, robust data tracking via the Mission Vatsalya Portal, and enhanced inter-agency convergence to build a rights-based, child-centric system for the next decade.
