The two-day regional round-table conference on 'effective implementation of the laws relating to juvenile justice concluded here on Sunday. The regional conference was organised by Supreme Court Committee and High court Committee on Juvenile Justice; hosted by High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Madhya Pradesh with support of UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh.
Speaking at the valedictory Justice Madan B lokur, Judge, Supreme Court of India said that the report of all the five regional roundtables including Bhopal will be shared with Juvenile Justice Committee of High Courts of the participating States. It will have way forward, and recommendations with suggested State plan of Action. He stressed the need of regular visits to Juvenile and Children homes and to strengthen functioning of Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committees.
Chairperson, Juvenile Justice Committee, Justice VM Kanade of High Court of Maharashtra, said that this regional round table was an opportunity to share learning, showcase achievements, talk about problems and solutions from the participating States. He added that 'all children are equal and we have to respond to every child'. Judge Indore bench of High Court Justice TK Koushal said that the need is to keep on the work, challenges will be there and child is never wrong - be it in conflict with law or need of care & protection.
Prior to this in the day, groups presentation was done by the groups formed on Saturday on the different themes including Effective functioning of Juvenile Justice Boards, Effective functioning of Child Welfare Committees, Effective functioning of Institutions under Juvenile Justice Act and Providing legal aid to children. Participants from Delhi, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh that included members of the High Court Committee on Juvenile Justice, Principal Secretaries of WCD, labour and Home and representatives of Judicial and legal bodies, civil society organisations, and academia were part of this Regional Conference.