Assam Government Provides Status Update to Gauhati High Court on Juvenile Justice Framework
The Assam state government has formally apprised the Gauhati High Court regarding the current status of two critical child welfare frameworks. According to official submissions, the draft Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules is presently under review within the legislative department. Once this vetting process is concluded, the rules will be advanced to the state cabinet for final approval.
Judicial Department Reviewing Draft Child Protection Policy
Simultaneously, the draft Child Protection Policy is pending with the judicial department. The government has clarified that this department has requested certain clarifications on the policy document, which are currently being processed by the concerned authorities. This dual-track review highlights the procedural steps being undertaken to formalize these essential child-centric regulations.
High Court Sets February Deadline for Completion
In response to these updates, the Gauhati High Court, presided over by Justice Kalyan Rai Surana and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury, has issued a directive. The court has instructed the state government to complete the entire notification process for the Juvenile Justice Rules at the earliest possible opportunity. The bench explicitly expressed its hope and trust that all relevant authorities, including the legislative department, will finalize the procedures by February 28.
Detailed Timeline and Case Pendency Concerns
The government's submission provided a detailed timeline for the Juvenile Justice Rules. The draft was initially sent to the legislative department on July 23 of the previous year. Following multiple rounds of clarifications and a return of the file for annexures on October 15, 2025, the document remains with the legislative department awaiting final vetting.
During the proceedings, the court also examined the pendency of cases within Juvenile Justice Boards across the state. Taking 70 cases as a benchmark, the court noted that 11 districts are experiencing higher-than-acceptable pendency rates. These districts include:
- Barpeta
- Biswanath
- Bongaigaon
- Cachar
- Dhubri
- Goalpara
- Hojai
- Kamrup Metro
- Lakhimpur
- Nagaon
- South Salmara
This observation underscores the urgency for finalized rules and policies to streamline judicial processes for juveniles.
Government's Commitment and Next Steps
The state government has assured the court of its commitment to expediting these matters. The pending clarifications for the Child Protection Policy are being addressed, and the legislative department is working on the final vetting of the Juvenile Justice Rules. The court has mandated that the state provide continued updates on the status of notifying these rules, ensuring transparency and accountability in the process.
