Dibrugarh: The second quarterly meeting and awareness programme of the Juvenile Justice Board for the current year was held on Friday at the conference hall of the District Judiciary in Sivasagar.
The meeting was organized under the initiative of the District Legal Services Authority and the Juvenile Justice Board, in collaboration with the District Child Protection Office. District and sessions judge Audri Bhattacharyya presided over the event, where detailed discussions were held on various issues and challenges falling under the purview of the Juvenile Justice Board.
The meeting was attended by chief judicial magistrate Ranjan Brahma, secretary of the District Legal Services Authority Saumar Jyoti Dutta, additional chief judicial magistrate Jahnobi Hazarika, sub-divisional judicial magistrate Shailen Buragohain, assistant commissioner and in charge officer of the district social welfare department Anwesa Thakur, deputy superintendent of police Surajit Choudhury, and district child protection officer Dr Bikash Ranjan Konwar, along with officials and staff of the concerned departments.
Key Deliberations on Child Welfare
Deliberations during the meeting covered a range of issues related to the care, protection, and rehabilitation of children in conflict with the law, as well as children in need of care and protection. Participants reviewed the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and discussed steps to address existing gaps in the implementation of provisions under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Emphasis on Coordinated Approach
District and sessions judge Audri Bhattacharyya, while presiding over the meeting, underlined the importance of a coordinated and sensitive approach in dealing with juvenile cases. She stressed the need for regular inter-departmental coordination to ensure that children receive timely legal aid, counselling, and support services.
“Our primary objective must always be the rehabilitation and social reintegration of juveniles. The legal system must act as a protective shield and a guiding force rather than a purely punitive mechanism. Timely disposal of cases and seamless coordination among all departments are essential to protect the future of these youngsters,” she said.
Officials attend the second quarterly meeting of the Juvenile Justice Board.
