Srinagar: The Juvenile Justice Committee of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, in collaboration with UNICEF India, on Saturday held a consultation in Srinagar to review a decade of implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and identify priorities for strengthening the child protection system.
The one-day consultation, held at the J&K Judicial Academy in Srinagar, brought together High Court judges, judicial officers, members of Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committees, police officers, child protection professionals, legal experts, mental health specialists and representatives of civil society and academia, according to an official statement.
Addressing the event, Justice Sindhu Sharma, Chairperson of the Juvenile Justice Committee, said the juvenile justice system must remain focused on fairness, rehabilitation and the developmental needs of children. She stressed the need for adequately resourced institutions, trained personnel, effective data systems and accountability mechanisms.
Justice Mohd. Akram Chowdhary said the completion of 10 years of the Act offered an opportunity to assess its impact on children. He called for stronger infrastructure, capacity building, adequate financial and administrative support, periodic evaluation and improved coordination among departments.
Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal highlighted the need for a multidisciplinary approach to juvenile justice and emphasised addressing implementation gaps. He discussed issues related to children above 16 years accused of heinous offences, confidentiality of juvenile records, adoption procedures and the functioning of Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committees.
Jesper Moller, Deputy Representative (Programme), UNICEF India, said the consultation provided an opportunity to assess the impact of the legislation on children’s lives. He highlighted progress made in Jammu and Kashmir in areas such as family-based care, child-friendly spaces, strengthening child care institutions and training frontline workers.
The consultation featured four thematic sessions focusing on implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act, rights of children in need of care and protection, preliminary assessment of juveniles accused of heinous offences and adoption processes.
Participants discussed issues including mental health support, legal aid, witness protection, rehabilitation, family-based care, aftercare services, age determination, child-sensitive assessments and institutional coordination among agencies responsible for child welfare.
Officials from the Social Welfare Department, School Education Department, Legal Services Authority, police, UNICEF, National Judicial Academy, IMHANS Srinagar and the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) delivered presentations during the sessions.
The deliberations concluded with the identification of key recommendations and priorities for the Juvenile Justice and Child Protection System, which are expected to form part of the action plan for 2026-27.
The consultation reviewed the progress made since the enactment of the Juvenile Justice Act in 2015 and focused on measures aimed at strengthening protection, rehabilitation and welfare mechanisms for vulnerable children in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
