Balance tough enforcement measures with targeted, effective, and intervention initiatives says CCPCR Chief

Chandigarh : Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR) organized Capacity Building Training Program for Police Personnel’s & Stakeholders on the Provisions of JJ Act and POCSO Act at U.T. Guest House here today. The Chief Guest for the occasion Sh. Praveer Ranjan, IPS, Director General of Police, Chandigarh highlighted, “We all stakeholders have to move away from draconian approach and follow child-friendly approaches. He further laid emphasis on rehabilitation and reintegration of children in need of conflict with law and children in need of care and protection. And urged all child welfare police officers to have child-friendly approaches while dealing with children”.On his 401 sessions on JJ Act & POCSO Act, Dr. K.P. Singh, IPS, Director General of Police (Retd.), Haryana highlighted that,” We all believe Juvenile Justice Act has come from UN CRC; While narrating the incident from the Ramayana where Lord Ram was told by Guru Valmiki that while dealing with the children one should let go off Rajhath (Laws) and follow balhath (child-friendly approaches).

He further elaborated on the various provisions of the POCSO Act (2020) and JJ Act, 2015. One of the questions asked by the participating Police officer was “How do we determine the age of the child if the child has no documents to prove it. Can he be tried as an adult”. On which Dr. K.P. Singh replied one has to consider the principle of the best interest of the child; which ensures that we consider that him/her as a child till verification.”While speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Harjinder Kaur, Chairperson, CCPCR highlighted “Juvenile Justice Act 2015 is the holy grail of child-related issues and therefore to ensure effective implementation of child-related laws is to balance tough enforcement measures with targeted, effective and intervention initiatives. We believe we have a lot to do for our children and the responsibility lies on all of us to work together and make the city child friendly”.The training program was attended by all the SHO’s of SJPU, Child Welfare Committee Chairperson and Members, staff of District Child Protection Unit, Union territory child protection society, and Women and Child Helpline. Ms. Sita Rani, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Women and Child Support Unit, Chandigarh –cum Nodal Officer of the Program assured that implementation of the acts in totality. Vote of thanks was extended by Dr. Monica M Singh Member, CCPCR along with Sh Sanjay Sharma, Member CCPCR and Sh. Varun Beniwal ALC-cum-Member CCPCR. On this occasion, Sh. Arvind K Dhawan, Sr. Assistant, Sh. Kartar Singh, Legal Consultant, Sh. Chanchal Singh, RTE Consultant were also present.