4 hrs ago
CJI Warns of Digital Stigma, Gujarat Announces Child Protection Policy
Chief Justice Surya Kant said children who have been in trouble with the law should not be labelled forever.
He called for old records to be destroyed on time and children’s names to be kept off the news and the internet.
He said helping children means supporting their return to family, school and community.
He made these remarks at a meeting about the Juvenile Justice Act.
The meeting brought together judges, government officials and other experts to share useful practices.
Separately, Gujarat announced a policy to protect children from abuse, neglect and discrimination.
It requires institutions that work directly with children to train their staff.
The policy also sets rules for how children must be treated and allows action against those who break them.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant called for timely destruction of old records involving children in conflict with the law.
He said children’s names should be kept out of news coverage and the internet to prevent lasting stigma.
Kant said rehabilitation should help children return to family, school and community, not end when they leave an institution.
He hoped a two-day consultation marking ten years of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, would help participants share effective practices.
Gujarat’s Child Protection Policy 2026 requires child-facing institutions to train staff and sets conduct standards, with action possible for violations.
- Who
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant; participants in the juvenile justice consultation; the Gujarat government.
- What
- Kant called for timely destruction of children’s records and protection from online stigma; Gujarat announced a child protection policy.
- Where
- The article does not specify where the consultation took place; the child protection policy applies in Gujarat.
- When
- Kant spoke at the inauguration of a two-day consultation marking ten years of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015; Gujarat unveiled its 2026 policy last month, according to the article.
- Why
- To support children’s rehabilitation and reintegration without stigma, and to create safer, rights-based environments for children.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant
- Consultation
- National Consultation on ten years of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015
- Consultation length
- Two days
- Record protection
- Kant called for old records to be destroyed on time and children’s identities kept out of news and online platforms.
- Gujarat policy
- Gujarat State Child Protection Policy 2026
- Institution requirements
- Child-facing institutions must train employees on child rights and relevant laws and follow a code of conduct.
- Enforcement
- The Gujarat government said institutions and individuals who violate the policy could face action.
Quotes
Surya Kant
Chief Justice of India speaking at the national consultation on the Juvenile Justice Act.
“We must destroy old records on time and keep the names of children in conflict with the law out of the news and off the internet, where they can linger for years. Rehabilitation that ends at the gate of an institution is not rehabilitation at all, for reintegration means restoring a young person's place in family, school, and community without stigma...”
livemint.com
“Over the next two days, judges of the High Courts, officers of the states, stakeholders, and domain experts will be sharing their experiences as to what has worked in their jurisdictions, and I hope each of us leaves with at least one practice worth carrying home...”
livemint.com
Sources
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