Juveniles’ long wait for justice continues
LUCKNOW: The absence of a full time juvenile justice board (JJB) has badly affected a large number of juveniles in conflict with law here.
The term of the last board ended in 2013. Though the members continued to serve extended terms till March last, resignations by two members crippled the functioning of the board.
The selection of new members of the board has been pending for long. Officials of the women and child welfare department say that a selection committee has already been constituted and selection is now in the hands of the committee.
Meanwhile, following media reports, members of Barabanki JJB have been asked to look after the cases of Lucknow JJB as well.
However, with additional charges, the members cannot devote full time at Lucknow JJB. Thus increasing the number of pending cases as well as the number of inmates in the observation home at Mohaan Road.
Against the capacity of 50 children, the home has 127 children whose trials are either on or yet to be started.
Officials of the observation home said that many children are living there for over two years because of their pending cases.
"Unless we get their bail orders, the children continue to live at the observation home. Some of them have been here for long and once they attain the age of 18, we have to shift them to the home meant for adults in Raebareli," said Ashok Awasthi, in-charge of the observation home which houses children in conflict with law from Lucknow, Unnao, Barabanki and Raebarelly.
Apart from the fresh cases coming for hearing everyday, about 400 cases registered before 2000 and about 1500 cases since 2001 are awaiting final decision at the Lucknow JJB.
Child rights experts feel that leaving children at the observation home for long is not good for their mental growth.
"There are those (juveniles) who are accused of heinous crimes including rape and murder and then there are those who have been accused of petty thefts. Leaving the two categories of children together for a long time could be dangerous for their personality development," said a child rights activists in Lucknow.