Legal awareness programme held
Source: The Sangai Express

Tamenglong, December 23 2021: District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Tamenglong in association with Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) and under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on Wednesday organised an online legal awareness programme on "Age Determination: Its importance in Juvenile Justice".

The programme was attended by members of JJB, Tamenglong and Noney; JJB, Imphal West; Chairpersons and members of CWC, Tamenglong and Noney; Additional SP (L&O) Noney; Additional SP, Jiribam; APP to JJB, Tamenglong and Noney; IOs/CWPOs under the jurisdiction of Tamenglong and Noney; Police Officers of Moirang PS, Singjamei PS, Lilong PS, Sugnu PS, Nambol PS, etc.

The awareness programme was organised to ensure fair, speedy enquiry and disposal of cases; to determine the age of the person produced before competent authority as soon as possible to prevent miscarriage of justice and to sensitize all the stakeholders for effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 in its true spirit and letter, said a release issued by DLSA Tamenglong.

Speaking on the occasion, Aribam Guneshwar Sharma, MJS, District & Sessions Judge, Imphal West cum Chairman, DLSA, Tamenglong stated that age of the person produced before the JJB or CWC or Magistrate or Court shall be determined at the first instance to prevent miscarriage of Justice although the age of juvenility can be claimed even after the disposal of case.

Belated claims of juvenility will not serve the objectives and purposes of the Act, he asserted.

Thiyam Rajkishore, Advocate, stated that the JJ Act, 2015 is a special legislation which deals with only two types of child viz, child in conflict with law and child in need of care and protection.

"If the age of the person is not determined at the initial stage of the case, it will cause injustice to all the children.

The age of a person can be determined from his physical appearance if it is obvious to the CWC or JJB as the case may be, as per relevant provisions of the Act.

In case, it is unable to determine the age of such a person as stated above, then the age shall be determined from the documents as prescribed by the Act" .

"Only in absence of such documents, age shall be determined by ossification test.

After determining the age and what kind of child he is, the procedure to be adopted can be found out" .

"To take advantage of lenient provisions of such beneficial legislation, some adult criminals try to manipulate their date of birth.

Children being the most vulnerable in the society need special care and attention", said Thiyam Rajkishore.

The Advocate further appealed to all the IOs and CWPOs to seize required documents to determine the age as per relevant provisions of law and prevent misuse of such Act.

"All the stakeholders have to take their responsibilities for rehabilitation and reformation of children so that they could be contributing members of the society", he concluded.

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