The Supreme Court will hold a two-day national consultation on Saturday and Sunday to review the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. Judges and experts will meet in New Delhi to discuss child protection and rehabilitation. Chief Justice Surya Kant said the event will help "shape priorities for the next decade" ahead.
The Supreme Court will hold a two-day national consultation on Saturday and Sunday to review the implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and identify the challenges and priorities for strengthening the child protection system over the next decade.
The consultation, to be held at the apex court premises in New Delhi, is being organised by the Supreme Court's Juvenile Justice Committee in association with UNICEF. It will bring together Supreme Court and high court judges, senior government officials and child rights experts to discuss the progress made under the law and ways to improve access to justice for children.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will inaugurate the event. During the inaugural session, he will also release a compendium of landmark Supreme Court and high court judgments relating to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, covering the period from 2015 to September 2026. Justice B V Nagarathna, Supreme Court judge and chairperson of the Juvenile Justice Committee, will deliver the opening remarks, while UNICEF India Country Representative Cynthia McCaffrey will make the introductory remarks.
The deliberations will focus on the rights of children in conflict with law, preliminary assessment by Juvenile Justice Boards in heinous offences, adoption procedures, institutional care and the rehabilitation of vulnerable children. Technical sessions will examine the implementation of the Act across states and Union Territories, with representatives from several states and regions expected to share their experiences and best practices.
The consultation will also discuss ways to improve coordination among institutions, strengthen child-friendly justice mechanisms, and promote the rehabilitation and reintegration of children. The event will conclude on Sunday with special remarks by UNICEF India's Chief of Child Protection Milen Kidane and an address by Union Ministry of Women and Child Development Secretary Anil Malik. Justice J B Pardiwala, Supreme Court judge and member of the Juvenile Justice Committee, will deliver the closing remarks.
According to a release issued by the apex court, the consultation aims to help shape priorities for the next decade, with a focus on protecting children's rights, strengthening institutional accountability and ensuring access to care, protection and justice.