Govt allows reinstatement of JJBs, CWCs across state

Noida: More than a month after disbanding the juvenile justice board (JJB) and child welfare committee (CWC) across UP, the state government has ordered that the two bodies be reinstated as per the directions of the Allahabad high court. Around 1,150 criminal cases pertaining to juveniles are currently pending in the district.
In an order late on Monday, the directorate of women welfare has asked the district probation officers (DPOs) across the state to reinstate the JJBs and CWCs under their respective jurisdictions. The JJB and CWC in Gautam Budh Nagar will also start functioning from Wednesday, officials said.
TOI had earlier reported that 1,150 criminal cases pertaining to juveniles were pending in the district since December-end, and at least 15 of 180 juveniles from five districts of western UP lodged in the Noida observation home in Phase II could have been released by far had the JJB and CWC been working. These 15 are accused of petty crimes.
District probation officer Atul Soni said the order came late on Monday night and they have contacted the members of the CWC and the JJB. “There are two members in the district CWC and they will start functioning from Wednesday. The JJB is not sitting as of now, but it too will start to function soon,” he said.
JJB member Aneet Baghel said they had conducted a meeting of the members on Tuesday and “we will also start functioning”.
In fact, as the JJBs and CWCs became defunct across the state, the government on January 31 issued an order directing all the DMs to nominate an ADM/SDM-level officer for performing the duties of the CWC and that the work of the JJB be allocated to a judicial magistrate nominated by the chief judicial magistrate.
But with the matter reaching the Allahabad HC, a bench ruled on February 7 that the new members of JJBs/CWCs be appointed and take charge by July 2020 and till the same happens, the erstwhile JJB/CWC members be allowed to continue.
The HC on February 12 said that the arrangement sought to be made through the government order of January 31 is “susceptible to challenge for reasons” which could “compromise the best interest of the child and the Act, 2015, itself, as such, the need to provide a better solution to the problem.”