JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMITTEE,ORISSA HIGH COURT


There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children

" Nelson Mandela "


"First and foremost, an attempt should be
Made to keep the child in family itself."


"Hon'ble JJ Committee,Orissa High Court, Cuttack "

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh

Chief Justice, High Court of Orissa

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Debabrata Dash

Chairperson

Hon'ble Miss Justice Savitri Ratho

Member

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra

Member

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Murahari Sri Raman

Member
Juvenile Justice is a legal model which defines justice for juvenile under the Indian Legal System. The system is giving a special treatment and protection to children in conflict with law. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the most essential legal instrument and bedrock of the juvenile justice law in India which prescribes constricting standards in securing the ‘best interest of the child’. An umbrella like legislation has been enacted i.e. Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, to protect and promote the rights of children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection.

The beginning of the Juvenile Justice Committees of the Supreme Court and the High Courts can be traced back to the resolutions passed by the Chief Justices’ Conference from 2006 to 2016. The Chief Justices’ Conference 2013 specifically resolute to set up in all High Courts the Secretariat of Juvenile Justice Committee to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Act in their true spirit, as had been set up in the Delhi High Court, under the JJ Act of 2000.

The Secretariat of Orissa High Court Juvenile Justice Committee has been constituted to act as state level supervisory committee to facilitate the effective implementation of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 in the State. The secretariat supervises and monitors the functioning of the statutory bodies set up under JJ Act i.e. Juvenile Justice Board, Child Welfare Committees, Special Juvenile Police Unit and support structures like DCPU, CCIs, Child line and appraises the Hon’ble Juvenile Justice Committee. It also coordinates with relevant government departments i.e. Home, Law, DWCD, School and Mass Education, Labour, Panchayat Raj etc. and UNICEF and other stake holders to support in implementing the directions / decisions of the Hon’ble High Court JJC. It addresses various issues on Juvenile Justice with regard to knowledge development of key stake holders, reviewing and monitoring the performance of the Juvenile Justice Institutions and dissemination of best practices in order to strengthen Juvenile Justice System in the State of Odisha.

Top it to all, regularly holds meetings with the concerned departments, functionaries, NGOs, and others for monitoring the implementation of the JJ Act, 2015 and resolves systemic, operational and attitudinal challenges that hinder linkages between the juvenile justice functionaries and other government agencies. It evaluates quarterly reports from concerned stakeholders on the existing status of the setting-up of the institutions/ authorities/ units as per the JJ Act, 2015 and the guiding JJ Rules especially the pendency and disposal of cases. Apart from monitoring, regular training programmes and seminars are conducted on juvenile justice issues to different functionaries for better implementation of the objectives of the Juvenile Justice (CPC) Act, 2015.

It is pertinent to recount the Supreme Court Judgments in Re: Exploitation of Children in Orphanages in the State of Tamil Nadu vs. Union of India and Ors. and Sampurna Behura vs. Union of India and Ors wherein the Court had stated - ‘While the Juvenile Justice Committee in each High Court is performing its role in ensuring the implementation of the JJ Act and Model Rules, there is no doubt that each Committee will require a small Secretariat by way of assistance’.
 
The High Court Juvenile Justice Committees will be guided essentially by the core objectives and Principles from the Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 in fulfilling their roles and mandates with respect to rights of children.