Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Feb 6: "Today’s children are tomorrow's future. We owe a lot to them. The great inherited culture and heritage of the country have to be preserved, protected and given in the hands of children with great responsibility," said chief justice of high court, D H Waghela.
He was speaking after inaugurating a one-day workshop on 'Juvenile Justice Act and protection of children' organized by Mangaluru Legal Services Authority, Karnataka State Legal Service Authority along with various associations at Netravati convention hall in ZP office here on Saturday February 7.
"The basic purpose of the Juvenile Justice Act is to see that children never go to jail. Hence the exclusive provisions are made to deal with them accordingly. It requires the heart of a woman to understand the pain of young hearts. Special provisions are tailor-made to ensure that justice is done to young persons. Here justice represents care and protection of children. There is no purpose in punishing the child, punishment is not in our culture. In Juvenile Justice Act, punishment aims to reverse the process of mind which has deviated from the right track," Justice Waghela said.
"The laws framed during the British rule were to oppress, and not meant for the welfare of children. The law earlier was to ruthlessly crush the thinking minds of young children. Law remains in book unless and until it is implemented in a spirit that cares for the young ones. Hence, the spirit or the purpose of the law should be fully understood," he said.
"During the growth of a child, adolescent period is very crucial and it is very important that they are guided during this period. During adolescent years, they receive inputs from many sources.
"Today, reading habit has fallen out of our culture. Present day children are exposed more to TV, computers and mobile phones. Society cannot afford to lose the potentiality of young minds. Our young population is the greatest strength in the world if we can train them in the right spirit. Only if they are protected from the menace of the society and encouraged to put their energies into good use can they bring glory to the nation," he said.
Justice Hulvadi G Ramesh of Karnataka high court presided, while Justice Abdul Nazeer and Justice A N Venu Gopala Gowda of Karnataka high court were present as chief guests for the programme.
Convener Ashok J Nijaganavar member secretary of Karnataka State Legal Authority, P P Hegde, president of Karnataka State Bar Association, deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim, ZP CEO Tulasi Maddineni, deputy police commissioner Santhosh Babu and Dakshina Kannada SP Dr Sharanappa were present on the occasion.
Uma M G, principal district and sessions court judge welcomed. District civil court judge N S Patil compered.