Chandigarh 29 March (Wishav Warta) The Chairman Juvenile Justice Monitoring Committee of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jaswant Singh, here issued guidelines in view of outbreak of Corona Virus (COVID 19) to the Juvenile Justice Boards with regard to Children residing in Observation Home, Special Home and Place of Safety in the State of Punjab, Haryana and U.T. Chandigarh.
In his recent directions, the Chairman directed all the Principal Magistrates, Juvenile Justice Board in Sessions Divisions to consider the cases of Children in conflict with law as per Section 98 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015. The Children placed in Observation Home, Special Home and Place of Safety be released on “leave of absence” considering the outbreak of Corona Virus (COVID 19). He also said that the Children who are undertrial or convicted for committing of offence other than “heinous offences” may be considered for a leave of absence for a period upto 21 days as per the advisory of Government of India However, the following categories of the children in conflict with law may not be considered:
1.All children convicted or undergoing enquiry for intermediate or large quantity recovery under NDPS or under 379-B of IPC or under POCSO Act or offence of rape or offence of acid attack.
2.All convicted or undertrial children who are foreign nationals.
3.All convicted or undertrial children who are convicted or undergoing enquiry in more than two cases or for any heinous offence even if number of cases is two or less.
4. All convicted or undertrial children belonging to other states since they shall not be able to travel to other states on account of lockdown/ sealing of borders/ curfew.
Further the medical examination of child will be done at the time of his/her release and readmission in Child Home, to rule out possibility of any kind of infection.
The chairman also asked the concerned to ensure the proper cleanliness, sanitization, provision of masks and medical facilities are being provided to the children residing in Child Care Institutions in the State of Punjab, Haryana & U.T. Chandigarh.
