SIR preparation under JJ Act crucial: CJ Aparesh Kumar Singh

Preparation of Social Investigation Report as part of Juvenile Justice Act cannot be a routine work but it should comprise crucial details to understand the child’s family background, social environment and basic necessities, said Telangana High Court Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh on Thursday.

He was addressing the gathering at the annual State-level stakeholders consultation meet on the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act-2015 convened by the State Judicial Academy on its campus. The CJ noted that protection of children and their rights cannot be confined to a single entity or agency.

All the stakeholders like the NGOs, the judiciary and the police had to play their respective roles to ensure no child’s rights were violated. HC senior judge and the Judicial Academy chairperson Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya said the JJ Act was strong legislation.

But its effective implementation would not be possible unless provisions of other special laws like POCSO Act and the BNS were used in conjunction. DGP C.V. Anand noted that attempts should be made to re-examine the definition of heinous offences under the JJ Act.

However, any proposals to change the definition should be not dilute the primary principle of giving an opportunity to reform the juveniles.