The Juvenile Justice-cum-POCSO Committee of the Jharkhand High Court, in collaboration with the Judicial Academy, Jharkhand, UNICEF Jharkhand and the Department of Women, Child Development & Social Security, Government of Jharkhand, organised a State Level Consultation on the implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the way forward for the next decade.

The consultation, held on August 30 at the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Auditorium of the Judicial Academy, Jharkhand, brought together Judges of the High Court, judicial officers, government and police officials, members of Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committees, child rights experts, UNICEF representatives and other stakeholders.

Speaking at the programme, Chief Justice M.S. Sonak described the Juvenile Justice Act as a “framework of trust” and emphasised the need for careful and coordinated efforts towards child restoration and mentorship.

Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, Chairperson of the Juvenile Justice-cum-POCSO Committee, highlighted the Act's emphasis on reform, rehabilitation and vocational training over punishment. He also pointed to continuing challenges before the juvenile justice system, including child-on-child offences and inadequate infrastructure, and called for speedier resolution of cases as well as strengthening of Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committees.

UNICEF Jharkhand Chief of Field Office Dr. Kaninika Mitra stressed the need to reach children in vulnerable communities and involve children in decisions concerning them. She also emphasised strengthening linkages between Child Welfare Committees and Panchayati Raj institutions, stating that the coming decade should focus on ensuring that the system works for the child, reaches the last child and facilitates the child's return to society.

The consultation also featured a skit and musical presentation by children under the guidance of Ashiyana Foundation, highlighting the need to bridge the gap between the principles of the Juvenile Justice Act and their implementation.

Three thematic sessions were subsequently held during the consultation, chaired by Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, Justice Anubha Rawat Choudhary and Justice Sanjay Prasad. The discussions focused on several aspects of juvenile justice, including effective monitoring and assessment mechanisms, child-friendly policing and legal services, education and reintegration, health and psychosocial support, family and community-based care, and data management through the Mission Vatsalya Portal.

The consultation emphasised the need for greater coordination, accountability and convergence among the agencies involved in the juvenile justice system, with the objective of strengthening a child-centric, rights-based and rehabilitation-oriented framework.

During the programme, the dignitaries also released a publication titled “A Decade of Implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the Way Forward”, documenting the progress made across relevant departments during the first decade of implementation.

The consultation was attended by, among others, Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay, Judge-in-Charge of the Judicial Academy, Justice A.K. Choudhary, Justice Anubha Rawat Choudhary, Justice Sanjay Dwivedi, Justice Sanjay Prasad and Justice Arun Rai, along with officials of the State Government, police officers, representatives of UNICEF and other stakeholders.