HC directs for formation of another Juvenile board

New Delhi, Apr 25 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today directed the state government to constitute another juvenile justice board for speedy disposal of more than 4000 pending cases against juvenile offenders.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice M K Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Khanna asked the Social Welfare Department of the state government to form the board at the earliest.

The Court directed the authorities to act upon the report submitted by the Registrar (Vigilance), which mentioned many shortcomings in the government-operated remand homes-- Sewa Kutir at Kingsway Camp, Prayas in collaboration with an NGO at Ferozshah Kotla(both for boys) and Nirmal Chaya(for girls).

Counsel Rajiv Awasthy submitted that at least 4000 cases, including 1000 of heinous nature were pending disposal before the only Juvenile Justice Board.

Some of juvenile offenders out of total 400, were languishing in various remand homes for more than seven years, despite the maximum punishment for the offence could be three years, he submitted.

Government Counsel Mukta Gupta submitted that the authorities would be implementing the suggestions gvien by the Registrar (Vigilance) with in four weeks.

The court directed the authorities to make arrangements for imparting vocational training, rehabilitation package and recreational arrangements for the inmates.

UNI