Chairman, NCPCR Priyank Kanoongo calls on Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh

Chairman, NCPCR Priyank Kanoongo calls on Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and discusses important issues concerning the rights of children in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh was today briefed about the law against using children as stone pelters and to punish those using children as stone pelters. The law has now become applicable in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, following the abrogation of Article 370 and the State becoming a Union Territory.

Chairman, National Commission for Protection for Child Rights (NCPCR), PriyankKanoongo met Dr. Jitendra Singh and discussed the important issues concerning the rights of children in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, which had emerged from the analysis recently conducted by the NCPCR. He also emphasised the need for strict implementation of Juvenile Justice Act, which now stands extended to the two UTs.

Shri Kanoongo informed Dr. Jitendra Singh that as per Section 83 (1) of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, any non- State, self-styled militant group or outfit declared as such by the Central Government, if recruits or uses any child for any purpose, shall be liable for rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine of five lakh rupees. Section 83 (2) of the same Act states that any adult or an adult group uses children for illegal activities either individually or as a gang shall be liable for rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine of five lakh rupees, he said.

This, by implication, means that anyone responsible for inducing or using children in stone pelting or any other violent activity will face serious action under the law.

Dr Jitendra Singh appreciated the NCPCR efforts for the protection of child rights in the country, including in the newly created Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. He said, using or inducing children to stone pelting is not only a crime against law but also a crime against humanity.

Further, NCPCR chief Kanoongo discussed with Dr. Jitendra Singh the implications of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 which is also now applicable in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. He also briefed the Minister about various awareness workshops and programmes conducted by the NCPCR to sensitize the stakeholders in different districts of Jammu & Kashmir.

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