Legal Assistance Forum - WORKSHOP CUM SEMINAR ON ‘FURTHERING JUSTICE DELIVERY STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN’, ERNAKULAM, KERALA

SEMINAR ON ‘FURTHERING JUSTICE DELIVERY STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN’ JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN
Date : 12-01-2008

SEMINAR

Shri J.K. Shingi, President, LAF, Rajasthan Chapter welcomed the honoured guests in the plenary session of the seminar. He explained the aims and objectives of the Forum and highlighted the activities undertaken so far by the Forum.

Mr. Vijay Hansaria, National President, LAF said that though the Juvenile Justice Act as amended in 2006 requires that each districts to have a Juvenile Justice Board; however, perhaps the Rajasthan is the only State in which the Boards have been constituted all the 32 districts and the respective CJMs have been appointed as a Principal Magistrate of the Board. The position in other States is not satisfactory and that is why under the present project, LAF would make endeavour to create public opinion and sensitize to the stakeholders to work for better administration justice to the juvenile.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tarun Chatterjee, Judge, Supreme Court of India said that 'best interest of the child' is the basic principle of Juvenile Justice system and all the stakeholders must keep in mind this principle while discharging their duties. He stressed that efforts must be on reformation on juvenile and not punishing him. Justice Chatterjee appreciated the efforts of Legal Assistance Forum in preparing the working manual on the Juvenile Justice System. He further added that juvenile in conflict with law have a right to be informed about the accusation against them and right to be legally represented. Justice Chatterjee called upon the lawyers to discharged their social resposibilities by extending legal aid to all deserving persons and particularly to the juveniles.

Hon’ble Justice R.S. Chauhan, Judge, Rajashan High Court added that it was necessary for the stakeholders to be sensitive towards the children and it is the utmost duty of the Principal Magistrate to do speedy disposal of cases.

Hon’ble Mr. Madan Dilawar, Minister for Social Justice and Right Department, Rajasthan assured the people of a promising tomorrow. He explained the 'Palan-har' scheme introduced by the Rajasthan Government under which children in need and care were encouraged to be adopted and adopting family is given a particular amount by the State for upkeeping of the child. Hon’ble minister expressed his distress at forceful religious conversions and children being forced into terrorism.

Mr. Derashri, Commissioner Social Justice and Rights Department, Government of Rajasthan said that children are not born criminal. He further said that an unlawful conduct of a juvenile which is done, for survival, is due to environmental situational factors or is done, under control of adults or peer groups. Therefore it is the duty of all stakeholders to provide effective rehabilitation programme for these juvenile.

Ms. Victoria Rialph, Chief, Child Protection, UNICEF, India talked on the working aim and objectives of UNICEF, its achievements and aspirations. She also said that in India, the issue of Juvenile in conflict with law is due to poverty, illiteracy, child trafficking and terrorism. Therefore she requested all the political members and judicial members to take effective steps in implementation of Juvenile Justice Act which is based on the U.N. standards Minimum Rules administration of juvenile justice (Beijing Rules).

Mr. P.I. Jose,National Secretry, LAF gave vote of Thanks to Hon'ble Justice Turn Chatterjee, Justice R.S. Chauhan, Mr. Madan Dilawar, Minister, Ms. Victoria Railph, UNICEF India, Mr. Dera ,Shri Commissioner, Dr. Bhupinder Singh, IGP and Mr.Rajendra Chaudhary CJM for there Inspiriing speech. He also Thanked JJB Members, Police Offices, probationofficer And Staff Member s of junenile Home and Advocates. He requestedthe Hon'ble Minister to Furnish a copy of the Newly Framed Juvenile Rules to all the Stake-holder, Which was agreed by the Minister.

The seminar ended with National Anthem and was followed by tea.

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