Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Mar 20: Jammu & Kashmir State Judicial Academy in its endeavour to strengthen the Judicial Institution and impart necessary skills, organized one day special training programme on “Law relating to Juveniles under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2013 and Rules” for Chief Judicial Magistrates/Judicial Magistrates of Jammu province. The Programme was organised under the guidance and patronage of Chief Patron of State Judicial Academy, Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar, Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Governing body of State Judicial Academy (Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar, Chairman and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, Member), Jammu and Kashmir State Judicial Academy.
Proceedings were conducted by Abdul Rashid Malik, Director, State Judicial Academy. In his introductory remarks, Director, State Judicial Academy extended warm welcome to Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, Judge, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir (Member, J&K State Judicial Academy) and Justice J.P. Singh, former Judge, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir (Member, State Accountability Commission) for gracing the occasion.
He further informed that Juvenile Justice Boards are likely to be constituted very soon to exercise the powers and duties under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2013 and Rules framed thereunder and the Judicial Magistrates with more than 5 years experience will be designated as Principal Magistrate of the Board.
Justice Janak Raj Kotwal gave overview of the programme and explained in detail the various provisions of the Jammu & Kashmir Juvenile Justice Act, 2013 and emphasized upon all the Judicial Officers to ensure that the provisions of the Act are implemented in letter and spirit and the object and purpose of the Act is achieved in its right perspective.
Justice J.P. Singh in his opening address made a creative presentation on the Cannons of Judicial Ethics which the Judicial Officers have to observe in and outside the court as the people have trust and confidence upon the Judiciary and always judge the judges by their conduct and behaviour.
He stressed upon the Judicial Officers that while implementing the provision of the Act, they should allow their humane side to come in fore front and ensure that the beneficial provisions are given harmonious interpretation so as to ensure that juveniles in conflict with law are rehabilitated back into the society with respect and dignity. Further, he exhorted the judicial officers that they should act as the torch bearers so far as implementation of this social welfare legislation is concerned in order to ensure that these juveniles in conflict with law who are the future of this nation are put on a path of progress and development and their energies are channelized for betterment of the nation.
There was lively interactive session with the officers and misconception and confusions about the procedure to be adopted under the Juvenile Justice Act were cleared. The impediments which are likely to come in the implementation of the Act were discussed and the Magistrates were emphasised upon to deal with the provisions with a positive mind set as child cannot be treated like ordinary criminal.
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