Juvenile Justice refers to a specialized legal system designed to address cases involving children, especially those who are in conflict with the law or in need of care and protection. Rooted in the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), this framework ensures that the "best interests of the child" remain central to all proceedings and interventions.
To uphold these values, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 was enacted, providing a robust legal foundation to protect the rights of vulnerable children and promote their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
The establishment of Juvenile Justice Committees in the Supreme Court and High Courts originated from a series of resolutions adopted during the Chief Justices’ Conferences between 2006 and 2016. A landmark decision in the 2013 Conference recommended that every High Court should set up a dedicated Secretariat for its Juvenile Justice Committee, following the model of the Delhi High Court under the JJ Act, 2000, to ensure effective oversight and coordination.
These Committees play a crucial role in monitoring the implementation of the JJ Act, 2015. They engage regularly with government departments, officials, NGOs, and other stakeholders to identify and address challenges in policy execution. Their focus includes reducing case pendency, improving coordination among agencies, and ensuring that statutory institutions and mechanisms are functioning effectively.
Guided by the core principles of child welfare, dignity, and justice, the High Court Juvenile Justice Committees remain committed to safeguarding the rights of every child and promoting a justice system that is both compassionate and effective. Two Committees in High Court of Jharkhand namely Juvenile Justice Committee and POCSO Committee were functioning independently. Both Committees were merged into one Committee viz. Juvenile Justice-cum-POCSO Committee on 28.02.2023.
Following the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case Re: Exploitation of Children in Orphanages in the State of Tamil Nadu vs. Union of India and Others, dated 05.05.2017, and with the support of the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Jharkhand, a dedicated Secretariat to support the Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Jharkhand was established on 19.07.2017. This Secretariat plays a key role in overseeing the functioning of various statutory bodies constituted under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, such as Juvenile Justice Boards, Child Welfare Committees, and Special Juvenile Police Units. Additionally, it liaises with the State Government to facilitate the efficient and timely enforcement of the JJ Act, 2015.
The Juvenile Justice Secretariat in High Court of Jharkhand comprises of the following: -
The Juvenile Justice-cum-POCSO Committee is committed to strengthening the Juvenile Justice system in Jharkhand by focusing on key areas such as capacity building, institutional performance, and promotion of best practices. The Committee plays a vital role in enhancing the knowledge of stakeholders, reviewing the functioning of Juvenile Justice Institutions, and ensuring effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice framework across the state.
Under the supervision of the Juvenile Justice-cum-POCSO Committee, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice system is regularly evaluated. The Committee convenes meetings with relevant departments, government officials, NGOs, and other stakeholders to assess the implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. These engagements help in identifying and addressing systemic, operational, and behavioural challenges that affect coordination among juvenile justice agencies.