The two-day workshop of duty bearers of ICPS, legal services authority, police and other functionaries on the effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice Amendment Act 2021 in Ladakh concluded on May 11.

The workshop was organised by Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of J&K and Ladakh in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department UT Ladakh supported by UNICEF India.

Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare, Education and Technical Education, UT Ladakh Padma Angmo attended the concluding ceremony virtually. She thanked the organizers, resource persons and trainees for successfully conducting the workshop. 

She said the workshop helped concerned officials and trainees to gain in-depth knowledge of the importance of the Juvenile Justice Amendment Act 2021 for its implementation in UT Ladakh. She stressed the need to understand the spirit of the Juvenile Justice Act for better understating and proper implementation of the law on the ground.

Regarding the awareness of the Act, she said a mass campaign will be run to educate the general masses and assured that in future, more such workshops will be conducted at a larger scale for the sensitization of officials from the concerned departments.

Secretary Padma highlighted the role of DLSA and other associate departments in the effective implementation, functioning and delivering justice, and providing protection and care for Juveniles. The Commissioner Secretary urged all the departments to work in close coordination with each other so that the objective of the law is fulfilled.

Member Secretary, Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Abdul Rashid Malik, who joined the workshop virtually, also thanked the participants and organizers for conducting such a resourceful workshop. He requested all the stakeholders to fulfil their constitutional duties and responsibilities in letter and spirit. Stressing on the role of concerned officials, he said care and protection of children in conflict with law and children who need care, protection is the responsibility that needs to be fulfilled. 

He requested resource persons to draft a detailed report which would highlight issues related to the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act in Ladakh for higher administrative perusal. Stressing the need for collective efforts for the effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice System, Malik said JJ Act can’t be implemented in isolation. He said coordinated efforts of all departments including Health, Police, ICPS, Education and others will help in the effective implementation of the JJ Act in districts.  

Reiterating the role and responsibility of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in taking care of children, who need protection and care, he stressed developing a conducive and sustainable mechanism for the betterment of their (children) future in the society.

Later, resource persons including Bharti Ali from HAQ Organization and Nimisha Srivastava from Counsel to Secure Justice gave a detailed presentation on procedures for children in need of care and protection, offences against children, miscellaneous issues, rehabilitation and reintegration of children, procedures and other important aspects.

The concluding day of the two-day workshop ended with group assignments, discussions and doubt clearing sessions.