'2,500 cases pending before Juvenile Justice Board'

Neena Nayak, Chairperson of the Karnataka Commission for Protection of Child Rights, on Thursday informed the High Court that there are 2,500 cases pending before Juvenile Justice Board and it is holding sittings only once a week.

Suggesting changes in managing the commission, she said work was being hampered because of shortabe of staff.She provided these information to a Division Bench comprising Justice D.V. Shyledra Kumar and Justice A.S. Pachhapure during the hearing of the public interest litigation (PIL) petition initiated suo motu by the High Court on the affairs of Government Observation Homes. Ms. Nayak also pointed out that there is lack of trained personnel to take care of the children in these homes.

Sumana Baliga, an advocate assisting the court as

amicus curiae , complained that the government is not doing enough. She suggested keeping senior juveniles away from small children so as to prevent instances of attacks/abuse. Meanwhile, the Bench directed the State government to respond to a PIL petition filed by Ashraya, an NGO, seeking facilities in observation homes.

Further hearing was adjourned to June 6.