Andheri police get crash course in Juvenile Justice Act

Volunteers from the NGO claimed that the policemen lacked adequate information on the provisions of the Act.

Joseph Pinto,a member of the NGO said many police officers were asking for a book on child rights and child labour to refer to while dealing with juvenile cases.

“Many police officers did not know what the CWC (child welfare committee) was,and to our surprise,they were referring to it as the Dongri court instead,” claimed Pinto.

The session focused on sections 23 to 28 and 32 of the Juvenile Justice Act,the role of the child welfare officer in a police station and the Juvenile Aid Protection Unit at the District level under Section 63,the role of the Child Welfare Committee,as well as the Child Labour Act 1986.

“The training session will surely help us in cases involving children. Lack of knowledge about the Juvenile Justice Act,forces us to take help from NGOs. Now that our officers are aware about the Act and its relevant sections,it would be easier for us,” said Prakash Wadkar,assistant commissioner of police (Andheri division).

A similar training session will next be held for officers at Dindoshi police station.