NGO welcomes SC ruling on juvenile act

An NGO working for children's rights Friday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the existing Juvenile Justice Act.

The apex court Friday refused to interfere with the age of juveniles in cases where they were found guilty of heinous crimes.

It was held by the court that the provisions of the act were in compliance with the constitutional directives and international conventions.

"We are extremely relieved and happy that the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the stance of child rights advocates and has dismissed the petition challenging the existing Juvenile Justice Act," said NGO Save the Children.

"The answer to juvenile delinquency is not in reducing the age of childhood but in investing more in preventing juvenile crime and the effective enforcement of the various provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act," it said in a release.

The release said the government must commit more resources to child protection mechanisms and strengthening Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).

Currently, the expenditure on child protection is an abysmal 0.04 percent of the union budget, despite large violence and abuse of children, it said.