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Justice Lokur Advocates at RMLNLU Consultation on Juvenile Justice Act
A two-day national consultation marking ten years of the concluded at in Lucknow with a powerful call for of child care institutions and greater accountability in the juvenile justice system. Former Supreme Court Judge Justice (Retd.) Madan B. Lokur set the tone by urging stakeholders to move beyond mere legal compliance and ensure that the rights, dignity, and best interests of every child are meaningfully upheld in practice.
Organised by RMLNLU in collaboration with , , , , and , the consultation brought together a diverse cross-section of participants—students, research scholars, government officials, legal practitioners, academicians, child rights activists, and social workers. The gathering provided a critical platform to reflect on the legislative journey of the JJ Act, examine developments in law and policy, and confront persistent challenges affecting children in conflict with the law.
A Decade of the Juvenile Justice Act
The was enacted to consolidate and amend the law relating to children alleged and found to be in conflict with the law, as well as . Over the past ten years, the Act has undergone implementation hurdles, procedural bottlenecks, and institutional gaps that continue to undermine its transformative potential. The consultation focused on how the juvenile justice system can move beyond safeguards that exist only on paper to practices that effectively uphold the rights of every child.
Discussions gravitated around the principle of the , the functioning of Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), Children's Courts, and Child Care Institutions, as well as the mechanisms necessary for . Participants consistently emphasised that every stage of the juvenile justice process must remain aligned with the child-centred objectives of the legislation.
and Institutional Accountability
In his inaugural address, Justice (Retd.) Madan B. Lokur highlighted the urgent need for of institutions functioning under the juvenile justice framework. He observed that issues such as overcrowding in child care institutions, probationary care, and institutional accountability require far greater attention.
"The objectives of the law cannot be realised unless we subject these institutions to rigorous social audit,"
he said, underscoring that transparency and community oversight are essential to prevent abuse and neglect within the system.
Justice Lokur’s remarks resonated strongly with legal professionals in attendance. The concept of —a mechanism where civil society, experts, and local communities evaluate the performance of public institutions—offers a practical tool to measure whether child care homes and observation homes are truly serving the best interests of children. For lawyers and judges, this raises important questions about the of audit reports and the ability of courts to take of systemic failures.
The Need for
A recurring theme throughout the consultation was the gap between the intent of the JJ Act and the reality on the ground. , Director of the , pointedly questioned the role of Public Prosecutors before Juvenile Justice Boards. He noted that many JJBs are yet to function as truly . The observation draws attention to the fact that —such as the requirement to produce a child before a Board in a non-intimidating setting—remain unfulfilled in large parts of the country.
, Director General (Investigation) at the National Human Rights Commission, added that understanding the factors that lead children into conflict with the law, as well as the causes of recidivism, is essential for improving implementation. She stressed that child care and juvenile justice remain priority areas for the NHRC. Her remarks indicate that the human rights watchdog is likely to scrutinise state compliance with the JJ Act more closely in the coming years.
The Role of Prosecutors and Boards
Legal professionals dealing with juvenile matters will find the discussion on prosecutors particularly relevant. The role of the Public Prosecutor before a JJB is not merely to prosecute but to ensure that the child’s rights are protected and that the board adopts a . Sri Mudgal’s frank admission that many Boards are not yet child-friendly points to a systemic challenge that requires both training and infrastructural investment. For defence counsel, this highlights the importance of proactively raising issues of non-compliance with before the board or revisional courts.
Justice (Retd.) Sudhir Kumar Saxena underscored the importance of a compassionate approach within the juvenile justice system. He stressed that children must be treated with care, sensitivity, and dignity. This judicial observation reinforces the principle that the juvenile justice process must be rooted in rather than retribution.
Inaugurated
During the programme, the dignitaries also inaugurated the at RMLNLU, established with the support of . The centre is expected to serve as a research and resource hub for child rights, including juvenile justice. For the legal community, such academic centres can provide curated data, model practices, and training materials that can be used by judges, lawyers, and board members to strengthen implementation of the JJ Act.
Pathways for Reform
The consultation concluded with a collective call to strengthen accountability, improve institutional and procedural practices, and advance evidence-based reforms. Participants agreed that the next phase of implementation must focus on:
- Expanding community-based alternatives to institutional care, such as foster care and sponsorship.
- Enhancing the capacity of Juvenile Justice Boards through regular training and resource support.
- Developing standardised protocols for of Child Care Institutions.
- Strengthening the role of the and .
- Building a robust data collection system to track outcomes and inform policy.
For legal professionals, the key takeaway is clear: the law has the potential to transform the lives of vulnerable children, but only if all actors—judges, lawyers, board members, prosecutors, and child welfare officers—commit to a child-centred interpretation and application of the JJ Act. , as Justice Lokur highlighted, are not just a governance tool but a legal imperative that can be enforced through judicial oversight.
Conclusion
As India completes a decade under the Juvenile Justice Act, the RMLNLU consultation serves as a timely reminder that the law’s success will be measured not by the number of provisions enacted but by the real-world outcomes for children. The call for , , and compassionate justice reflects a growing consensus that the juvenile justice system must evolve from a punitive model to a restorative one. For lawyers, judges, and policymakers, the path forward lies in translating policy into practice—ensuring that every child who comes into contact with the law is treated as a subject of rights, not an object of procedure.
