HC TELLS MAHA GOVT: Consider setting up a child-friendly courtroom

The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Maharashtra government to consider on “priority”, establishing a “model child-friendly courtroom” for minor victims, witnesses and juveniles facing inquiry under a protection law for them.

A bench of Justices Naresh Patil and G S Kulkarni also directed Maharashtra Advocate General

Ashutosh Kumbhakoni to file, within a month, a comprehensive reply on the status of vacancies at child welfare committees and Juvenile Justice Boards across the state, and on all such provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act) that are yet to be implemented.

The JJ Act focuses on children in conflict with the law and those in need of care and protection. The bench was hearing a suo motu (on its own motion) petition following the directions of the Supreme Court to all high courts to consider, among other things, establishing “child-friendly” courts and vulnerable witness courts in each district.

In February, the SC passed a slew of directions for the chief justices of all HCs across the country related to a clutch of laws. It had asked the HC chief justices to ensure that all provisions under the JJ Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, and the provisions under the IPC for trials for sexual offences were implemented in full spirit.

The bench of Justices Patil and Kulkarni, accordingly, initiated the aforementioned petition on their own and sought the AG's assistance on drawing up a plan to implement the directions.