Acting Chief Justice D N Patel of Jharkhand High Court will be attending two-day judicial colloquium on July 7-8 in Cuttack to discuss the feasibility of introducing a certificate course on juvenile justice in various national law universities.
Justice Patel happens to be the chairman of the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Jharkhand High Court and has been taking various
steps to secure justice for children, particularly those who are in conflict in law, since 2014 in the State.
The meeting has been called by the Justice Madan B lokur, judge of the Supreme Court and also Chairman of the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Apex Court.
The colloquium has been called as a preliminary to a certificate course on juvenile justice issues and capacity building being introduced by the National law University, Orissa (NlUO) in partnership with the University of Geneva in Switzerland.
The meet will be attended by experts from the Centre of Child Rights, Switzerland as well as Ms Renate Winter, Chairperson of United Nations Committee on the rights of the child. It will also discuss the broad details of the course on Juvenile justice.
The experts are supposed to contribute to the discussion, particularly on the contents of the Executive course. “The importance of this is that if the discussions are fruitful, the initiative taken by NlUO can be replicated in other national law universities so that there is greater understanding and enforcement of the rights of children.”
The course by the University of Geneva has been designed with a purpose to set the general framework and address specific features of juvenile justice.
It also focuses on the prevention and the first and second stage of a trial investigation and prosecution.
The students, after completing the specialized course are expected to be familiar with the fundamental notions of the juvenile justice, with particular emphasis on restorative justice. They are also supposed to analyse, evaluate and identify the principal issues relating to juvenile justice and factors of risk and protection within children’s rights, take action with children and adolescents in conflict with law, or at risk of being at that position
Notably, the acting Chief Justice had attended the World Congress on Justice for Children held at UNESCO House in Paris from May 28 to May 30.
Justice Patel as Executive Chairman of the Jharkhand State legal Services Authority (JHAlSA) has developed a model for permanent rehabilitation for children lodged in various Observation Homes and the model has got applause from the National legal Services Authority (NAlSA) and the Supreme Court as well.
The model for permanent rehabilitation and reintegration of children in conflict with law through skill development was launched for the first time in the country in Jharkhand, by the Jharkhand State legal Services Authority (JHAlSA) in association with the State Department of Women and Child Welfare.
His other steps to reform Observation Homes included linking Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBS) through video conferencing, expeditious inquiry process, facilitating timely production of children, making available children related books and magazines, reducing stress among children and parents.
He has also ensured commencement of work for Integrated Child Protection Services for Girls in Deoghar.