Govt proposes child-friendly juvenile laws

Stressing that no child in conflict with law will be handcuffed/chained or sent to jail or lock-up, the draft rules of the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 released on Wednesday by the women and child development (WCD) ministry prescribe in detail child-friendly procedures for police, Juvenile Justice Boards and children’s courts.

The draft rules say that while communicating with the child, the Board must adopt a child-friendly attitude with regard to body language, facial expression, eye contact, intonation and volume of the voice. “The board shall hold its sittings in a child-friendly premises which shall not look like a court room in any manner,” it said. According to the draft, there shall be no barriers, such as witness boxes or bars, between the Board and children.

It has also been proposed that all tobacco products and liquor should carry a “precautionary caution” — “Giving or selling intoxicating liquor or tobacco products to a child is a punishable crime with up to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh”.

For the first time several offences against children have also been included in the Act, like sale and procurement of children for any purpose, corporal punishment in child care institutions, use of children by militant or adult groups, giving children liquor, narcotic drugs or tobacco products.

A detailed procedure has also been included in the draft rules to determine the age of the child.