Port Blair (Sri Vijay Puram): A decade after the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 came into force, South Andaman has begun a fresh review of its implementation, with key stakeholders calling for stronger coordination, child-friendly procedures and more effective rehabilitation mechanisms. A District-Level Stakeholder Consultation on “10 Years of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015” was held on August 18 at the Conference Hall of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, under the guidance of the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Calcutta High Court and pursuant to the initiative of the Supreme Court of India.
The consultation brought together representatives of the Police, Education, Health, Social Welfare, District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Child Care Institutions, Juvenile Justice Board and other agencies involved in child protection and welfare. The discussions centred on strengthening mechanisms for the safety, rights, care, protection, rehabilitation and holistic development of children in need of care and protection, children in conflict with law and children involved in adoption proceedings.
Participants reviewed the Act’s implementation over the past decade, with emphasis on timely intervention, inter-departmental coordination, child-friendly procedures, community-level protection mechanisms and effective case management. The DCPU, South Andaman, made a detailed presentation covering adoption, children in need of care and protection, children in conflict with law and key achievements and developments recorded during the past 10 years.
District and Sessions Judge Subhra Bandopadhyay, Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge, POCSO, Umesh Singh, Chief Judicial Magistrate Samrat Roy, and Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Jayanta Mukherjee, stressed the need to sensitise the Judiciary, Police and other agencies towards child-friendly handling of juvenile justice matters, particularly preliminary assessment under Section 15 of the Act.
The participants also called for continuous capacity-building of frontline functionaries, closer coordination among agencies and timely delivery of care, protection, rehabilitation and reintegration services.
Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, Purva Garg, appreciated the participation of all stakeholders and stressed that coordinated and accountable action was crucial to strengthening the district’s child protection system.
Superintendent of Police, South Andaman, Shweta K. Sugathan, IPS, emphasised stronger protection, rehabilitation and reintegration measures for children in conflict with law and continued coordination among the Police, Juvenile Justice Board, Child Welfare Committee, DCPU and other agencies.
The consultation provided a platform to assess a decade of progress, identify gaps and chart measures for a more responsive, child-friendly and effective juvenile justice system in South Andaman, with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to ensuring a safe and supportive environment for every child.
