Re-examination of cases disposed by the Juvenile Justice Board

Source: DNA dated 18.3.2013 Re-examine 132 juvenile cases: HC

Urvi Mahajani

Displeased with the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in Pune, the Bombay high court has directed the principal district judge to re-examine the 132 cases which the JJB disposed of in one working day on September 16, 2012. Justice Abhay Oka observed: “How so many cases that require application of mind and require reasoned orders to be passed could have been disposed of on a single day is a question which needs to be seriously inquired into.” The HC further said that if it is physically impossible for principal district judge to scrutinise all the files, then he should depute any other district judge to visit the office of the JJB for the same. The HC has sought a report from the principal district judge, Pune, by the first week of July. The direction was given while hearing an appeal filed by a juvenile who was arrested in a murder case in April 1988. The principal district and sessions judge, Pune, submitted a report stating that a Maha Lok Adalat was held on September 16, 2012, in which 1,833 out of 1,848 cases were disposed of. Of these, 133 cases were disposed of as the juvenile pleaded guilty and in the remaining 1,700 cases, orders of closure were passed. The HC asked for the re-examination of the cases as it would be unjust to consider the case of only one juvenile.