FACILITIES AT POCSO COURTS
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: In order to give impetus to the overall development of the juvenile justice system in Assam, a division bench of the Gauhati High Court comprising Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Mitali Thakuria directed that the two PIL petitions relating to facilities at POCSO Courts shall henceforth be specifically assigned to a Special Division Bench comprising the Chairperson and Member of the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Gauhati High Court.
The bench heard the two PILs (60/2019 and suo moto 1/2018) in the presence of UNICEF’s Child Protection Specialist Laxmi Narayan Nanda.
Mr. Nanda pointed out that the earlier scheme of the Central Government, which was under the name and title of “Integrated Child Protection Scheme” (ICPS), has now been re-designated as “Mission Vatsalya”.
The bench said that the senior government advocate shall take instructions as to whether any funds received in the erstwhile Integrated Child Protection Scheme are lying unutilized so that a direction may be given for appropriate use of such funds for furtherance of the cause of the juvenile justice system in the state. The bench further said that the detailed affidavit, as directed to be filed by an order on March 31, 2023, is still awaited. And that made the senior advocate general submit part of the affidavit on that day.
The Court said that Mr. Laxmi Narayan Nanda, representative of UNICEF, shall continue to remain in touch with learned Amicus Curiae Mr. H.K. Das for further proceedings on these two PIL petitions.
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