J&K govt to amend Juvenile Justice Act

The Jammu and Kashmir government is likely to table an amendment to the Juvenile Justice Act to bring it at par with the Central Act which defines a person under 18 years of age as a minor.

The Revised Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act in consonance with the Central Act is likely to be tabled in the Assembly in the coming session during August-September, state law secretary Ghulam Hassan Tantray informed the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

The current act in Jammu and Kashmir defines a persons as minor till he reaches the age of 16 years.

The NCPCR team stressed the need to have an effective juvenile law in place along with the rules to Juvenile Justice law that need to be notified at the earliest possible time to take care of entitlements of children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law.

“The team was informed that the Bill, relating to the setting up of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, is also being tabled in the same session as the government had taken up the issue of protection of child rights on  priority,” an official spokesman said.