FIGHTING FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

Court gives state 2 mths to implement juvenile Act

Hetal Vyas | TNN 

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Thursday came down heavily on the Maharashtra government for its failure to implement the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2000 (care and protection), which makes it mandatory for the government to constitute a child protection home in each district. 

    “The Act came into force in 2000, it takes 10 years to implement the law? The bodies have not been constituted nor have other provisions been implemented,’’ said a division bench of Justice Dr D Y Chandrachud and Justice Rekha Sodurbaldota. 

    A government lawyer said the JJ Act would be implemented in six months. Justice Chandrachud said, “Complete the process in two months.’’ 

    The court also pulled up the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for failing to discharge their duties. 

    The court was hearing a suo-motu PIL on the death of five mentally-challenged children in a Thane-based home. In August, media reports were converted into a PIL. One mentally challenged girl was also allegedly physically abused. 

    The Women and Child Welfare Department has been told to constitute child protection units in four weeks and also a managing committee will be formed to look into the affairs of children’s homes in the state. 

    The court also directed the government to conduct a medical and psychological examination of all 18 children in a civic hospital and submit a report on the next hearing. The court also directed Amicus Curiae Asha Bajpai (professor with TISS) to visit all 43 children’s homes in the state. 

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