Retired Supreme Court Justice Madan B. Lokur, the keynote speaker, underlined the stark contrast between probation systems abroad and in India, stressing that Indian probation officers (POs) are burdened with unrealistic caseloads of up to 500 children each. He called for the immediate recruitment of more POs
Panel discussions explored socio-legal intersections, systemic challenges, and innovative rehabilitative models
Held as a satellite event of the 5th World Congress on Justice with Children, a two-day National Consultation focused on “Advancing Child-Centred Justice” brought together stakeholders from 20 states and one Union Territory to discuss challenges and reforms in the juvenile justice system.
Retired Supreme Court Justice Madan B. Lokur, the keynote speaker, underlined the stark contrast between probation systems abroad and in India, stressing that Indian probation officers (POs) are burdened with unrealistic caseloads of up to 500 children each. He called for the immediate recruitment of more POs and the effective implementation of the Probation of Offenders Act.
Shri Bharat Parashar, Member Secretary I/C of NALSA and Guest of Honour, emphasised that juvenile justice should be rights-based and rehabilitative, not punitive. He highlighted the crucial role of POs and Legal-cum-Probation Officers (LCPOs) in mentoring children and ensuring their reintegration into society.
Valedictory session guest, retired Delhi High Court Judge Smt. Manju Goel proposed the celebration of a dedicated Juvenile Justice Day to raise awareness and shift focus from punishment to systemic support for juveniles.
Professors Bipin Jojo (TISS) and Sanjoy Roy (University of Delhi) noted the historic collaboration between their institutions in organising this consultation, reinforcing the importance of academic partnerships in justice reform.
Panel discussions explored socio-legal intersections, systemic challenges, and innovative rehabilitative models. Working groups deliberated on strengthening probation services, Mission Vatsalya, implementation of the JJ Act, and inter-state networking.
A poignant highlight of the event was a short film featuring the voices of children who experienced the juvenile justice system firsthand, produced by Sachi Maniar and her team.
The two-day National Consultation was full of yearning for learning under one umbrella of all the related stakeholders. The participants felt that this initiative helped in building confidence and capacity, as the good practices shared by different stakeholders opened the avenues of possibilities of working towards the desired vision. The participants thanked Dr Asha Mukundan (TISS) and Prof. Neena Pandey (DSSW) for organising this much-needed consultation on probation in the JJ system in India.
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