Magistrates need training in juvenile laws: HC

Gujarat High Court on Monday directed its administrative arm to arrange for training in the Juvenile Justice Act for the magistrates in Gujarat judiciary.

The order came after a petitioner Lok Adhikar Manch raised the issue of inadequacies on the part of judiciary in handling juvenile cases.
The PIL was filed in 2003, demanding setting up of remand homes and equip them with manpower to take proper care of juveniles that were brought in official care for various reasons, including commission of offence.
Following this PIL, the state government was asked by the court to implement the law, and remand homes were set up accordingly in each of the districts.
The government recently filled some 400 vacancies lying vacant in remand homes for years.
When the PIL came up for hearing on Monday, the petitioner’s counsel Anand Yagnik submitted that there was a need to sensitise the members of judiciary, particularly judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) who preside the juvenile courts, regarding the issue of juveniles.
After noticing that JMFCs were not trained in juvenile laws and child psychology, a bench headed by Chief Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya directed the administrative side of the high court to arrange for training in this regard. The court asked the registrar general to submit a progress report after a month.
During the last proceeding, the social justice and employment department informed that the court that it was considering certain trades like stitching, sewing and carpentry outdated and therefore they would be done away with.
Instead, the state government is planning to introduce fashion designing, computer education and information technology.