Courts for children hope to bring about a change

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Soon, Delhi will become the first city in the country to have children’s courts, which will exclusively take up cases where a child is a victim. The initiative is proposed by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) under the (CPCR) Act 2005 and will set up a total of nine courts in the city, which will deal with cases where a

child has suffered due to any form of violence or crime. “Around nine district court judges have been assigned to look after children’s cases. They have undergone training and orientation for the same. The court will also look into pending cases in various city courts. The idea of setting up such courts is to ensure rights and justice to every child victim,” says Amod Kanth, chairperson, DCPCR.
Sounds effective, but will it really help give justice? After the Arushi case closed and with the rising cases of missing kids, child abuse and child labour in the city, will this step help curb the growing crime against children? Although few find it a move in the right direction, many talk about its possible bottlenecks.
Says Anushreeta Neogy, a media professional, “The idea is indeed noble, yet chances of it making a difference is circumspect because the responsibility of investigation and justice delivery would revolve around the same people, who traditionally legislate and execute it. It would only have a different name, which apparently claims to devote more attention to delivering justice to children. Yet the players within the social milieu remain the same, unless one is fortunate enough to witness a change that is devoid of corruption. Separate courts can’t deliver a desired transformation.”
Seconds Anjali Gopalan, executive director, Naz Foundation (India Trust), an organisation, which works for HIV orphans and says, “I’m only concerned about how quickly and effectively the judiciary will function. And will it have back-up services, facilities for children who will come to them for help. The move is fabulous, but if the implementation is weak, the whole concept will flop.”
And there are few who have high hopes. Designer Leena Singh of Khushii, an NGO says, “It’s good that the city will now have an exclusive body to look after crime against children. It will help create awareness about crime against children, especially against the girl child, which needs to be addressed. There are millions of unfortunate kids in the city, who need basic care, love and support and we should have children’s courts to deal with such issues.”
Till now Delhi has two juvenile justice courts to deal with issues pertaining to children as perpetrators of crime and four child welfare courts to deal with issues pertaining to children in need of care and protection.
Says Meenakshi Lekhi, a senior Supreme Court lawyer, “Whether they are victims or criminals, it’s good to have special courts for children. Children are not criminals, but it’s their circumstances like faulty upbringing, trafficking that leads them to take up a life of crime. And if the government takes right steps, it will surely help bring about positive results.”