Juvenile cases pile up in Odisha

Berhampur (Odisha), Sept 20: Juvenile cases in Odisha's Ganjam district are piling up as the hearing by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) came to halt for over a month in the district.

The JJB is a three-member board, headed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in each district and it hears juvenile cases.

The post of CJM, who is also the designated principal magistrate of the JJB, is lying vacant since August 3 after the incumbent was transferred. The last hearing on the juvenile cases was held on July 25, a district official said.

Till September 18, as many as 445 cases were pending before the JJB located here, he added. Of these, 83 cases are registered this year.

In the present situation, fate of several teenagers hangs in balance, state Convenor of Campaign against Child Labour, Sudhir Sabat said.

The organisation is organisation working for child rights. Sabat urged the government to set up the second JJB in the districts, including Ganjam where juvenile cases are pending for last some years.

Several states, including Maharashtra, have set up second JJB in some districts after the Supreme Court's recent observation, he added.

Abani Shankar Parida, one of the members of the JJB in Ganjam, admitted the examination of the witness was not held and judgement not delivered due to the absent of the principal magistrate of the board.

"The board with two members is sitting regularly. It is hearing bail petitions and granting bail to children, implicated in non serious and petty cases", he said.

PTI