New Delhi, July 24: The NCT government today informed the Delhi High Court that it has constituted juvenile justice board and various committees required under juvenile justice (care and protection) act to oversee the working of juvenile homes in the Capital. Juvenile justice board was constituted under Section 4 of the act on April 10, while inspection committees for all the nine districts were formed on June 12, Delhi government counsel V K Shali told a division bench comprising Chief Justice B C Patel and Justice A K Sikri, which directed the committees to file quarterly reports before registrar general.

The bench had on may 8 directed the Delhi government to constitute by today the committees required under the act passed three years ago while expressing its displeasure over its failure in this regard.

Shali told the court that state/city advisory board has also been set up but the same is awaiting approval of the Lt Governor. The child welfare committees under section 29 of the act were in existence since February 19 even before the court issued its direction, he said.
According to section 35 of the act, the government has to set up inspection committees comprising its representatives, NGOs, social workers and medical practitioners to monitor the functioning of juvenile homes.

The court had taken suo motu action in the matter in 1999 and thereafter a committee of lawyers was set up to visit the juvenile homes and report back to it about their condition.
Bureau Report