Advisor G denies changes in JJ Act

JUNAID SIDIQ

SRINAGAR: Governor’s administration today denied the reports of amending the Juvenile Justice Act to reduce the age of juvenility from 18 years to 16 years in case of heinous offences, asserting that they are focused only on developmental issues facing the state.
There have been reports that the Raj Bhavan was considering to approve the draft prepared to amend the said act.
However, Governor’s Advisor Khurshid Ahmad Ganai negated these reports today.
“We have juvenile justice law of 2013 in the state. There have been media reports about amendments being made in Law but nothing has been done as of now,” Ganai said.
“The Governor is more focused on the development of the state,” he said, while talking to media on the sidelines of an educational event at Shri Pratap Higher Secondary School here.
The government had prepared a draft to amend the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Juvenile Justice Act to reduce the age of juvenility from 18 years to 16 years in case of heinous offences.
Enacted by the former Governor Narinder Nath Vohra earlier this year to consolidate and amend the law relating to children under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of the Children) Act, 2013, the draft allows children aged 16 to 18 to be tried as adults for “heinous crimes”.
According to the draft, if the Juvenile Justice Board after preliminary assessment passes an order there is a need for trial of the said child as an adult, then the Board may order transfer of the trial of the case to the children’s court having jurisdiction to try such offences.
“The inquiry of heinous offences for child below the age of 16 years shall be disposed by the JJB, following the procedure for trial in summons cases under the code of criminal procedure, Samvat 1989,” reads the draft.
However, Ganai said the Governor Satya Pal Malik is more focused on the development of the state.
“Whenever there is a dire need to make laws we will do it but as of now Governor has categorically instructed us that our focus should be on development,” he said.
Lately, mainstream political parties have criticized Governor for fiddling with the sensitive issues of the state that include JJ Act, J&K Bank, Roshni Act and PRC rules.
During the 2016 unrest, several juveniles were detained by the police.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 102 crimes committed by juveniles were recorded in the state in 2014, 181 in 2015 and 198 in 2016. Of the 198 juveniles arrested in 2016, at least 109 were held for rioting.