Staffing, infrastructure and social audit of institutions: Karnataka High Court issues detailed guidelines for Juvenile Justice Boards

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday issued a detailed set of directions on the issues of infrastructure and staffing in Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) created under the Juvenile Justice [Care and Protection of Children] Act, 2015 (JJ Act)..The directions passed by a Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice SS Magadum read as follows:.The State Government to ensure that all the JJBs are located in the premises as provided in Section 6(1) of the Model Rules.The State Government to prepare a uniform model design of the offices of JJBs, taking into consideration the requirements of the JJ Act and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) ModelRules, 2016 [Model Rules].State Government to formulate a uniform policy regarding the infrastructure and staffing pattern of JJBs, in consultation with Karnataka State Legal Services Authority.Till this Court passes final order regarding the standard design and infrastructure, the State Government to take all possible steps to provide proper infrastructure, staff and equipment to JJBs.State to place on record whether any steps have been taken by the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights for monitoring and implementation of the provisions of the JJ Act after taking into consideration the provisions of Rule 91 of the Model Rules.State Government to consider conducting social audit of the performance of the institutions under the JJ Act and implementation of the State policies regarding children.State Government to provide all the requisite infrastructure to each JJB for conduct of video conference hearing..The Court was further of the view that it would be necessary to go into compliance with various provisions of the JJ Act and model rules as well as the directions issued by the Apex Court in the case of Sampurna Behura v. Union of India and others..For the same, the matter has been listed for hearing on March 2..These directions were passed in batch of pleas raising concerns on filming of child pornography in child care institutions..Last year too, the High Court had issued directions in the matter..Issue guidelines to curb child pornography, formulate SOP to deal with missing children investigation: Karnataka HC.A few months back, the Court had sought information from the State government on the infrastructure of JJBs and the establishment of child-friendly courts in the State..[Read Order]