Allahabad High Court Releases Hindi E-Booklet Of Supreme Court Judgment In Just Right For Children Case
The Allahabad High Court has released the sixth edition of its 'Historical Judgments in e-Booklet Form', featuring the Hindi translation of the Supreme Court's judgment in Just Right for Children Alliance & Anr. v. S. Harish & Ors.
The e-booklet, based on the judgment dated September 23, 2024, passed by the Supreme Court in Criminal Appeal Nos. 2161-2162 of 2024, was launched on September 30, 2026, by the AI Assisted Legal Translation Advisory, e-AHCR and ILR Committee.
The series, 'Historical Judgments in e-Booklet Form', had earlier featured Hindi translations of the Chauri-Chaura Case, Keshav Singh Case, Agra Conspiracy Case, Cawnpore Bomb Blast Case, and Raj Narain v. Indira Nehru Gandhi, in its first five editions.
The sixth edition focuses on the Supreme Court's landmark judgment in Just Right for Children Alliance & Anr. v. S. Harish & Ors., described in the press release as a significant ruling concerning children's rights and digital safety.
The judgment addressed the legal implications of downloading, viewing or storing child-related explicit material. According to the press release, the Supreme Court held that mere downloading, viewing or storing such material constitutes a criminal offence under Indian law.
The Division Bench comprising then Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice J.B. Pardiwala overturned a Madras High Court order which had quashed a chargesheet on the reasoning that private viewing or storage of obscene content, without transmission, did not amount to an offence. The Supreme Court held that such an interpretation would defeat the objective of child protection laws and normalise child exploitation.
Directions Issued By Supreme Court
The press release highlights several directions issued by the Supreme Court, including:
Use of the expression "Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM)" instead of "child obscenity" or "child pornography" in judicial orders and judgments.
Implementation of comprehensive sex education programmes.
Provision of support services for victims and rehabilitation programmes for offenders.
Promotion of awareness regarding the realities and consequences of child sexual exploitation material through public campaigns.
Early identification of at-risk individuals and implementation of therapeutic strategies for youth exhibiting problematic sexual behaviour.
Education of students about healthy relationships, consent and appropriate behaviour through school-based programmes.
Constitution of an expert committee by the Union Government to give effect to the suggestions and work out necessary procedures.
Consideration by Parliament of an amendment to Section 15(1) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The Allahabad High Court stated that the e-booklet series is intended to serve as valuable material for legal researchers, lawyers, judicial officers and law students. The objective of the series is also to democratise legal knowledge and make India's judicial heritage more accessible to readers.
The e-booklets will be made available free of cost on the official website of the Allahabad High Court under the 'ई इलाहाबाद उच्च न्यायालय निर्णय पत्रिका (e-AHCR)' tab.
AI-Assisted Legal Translation Project
The AI-generated translation project is being carried out by the SUVAS Cell, Allahabad and Lucknow, under the patronage of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and the guidance of the AI-Assisted Legal Translation Advisory, e-AHCR and ILR Committee.
The Committee comprises Justice Ajit Kumar, Chairman, and member Judges Justice Sameer Jain, Justice Vikram D. Chauhan and Justice Vivek Kumar Singh.
The formal launch of the e-booklet took place in the presence of members of the AI-Assisted Legal Translation Advisory, e-AHCR and ILR Committee. Justice Swarupama Chaturvedi, who had appeared as an Advocate in the case and successfully pleaded the cause of children, was also present. She has written the foreword to the publication.