Guwahati: Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Justice Ashutosh Kumar on November 14 inaugurated ‘NYAYA PRAVAH – Child-Friendly Justice Programme’, an initiative designed to strengthen child-sensitive practices across judicial institutions in Assam.
The programme was jointly launched by the Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA), UTSAH Child Rights Organisation and the National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam (NLUJAA), at the Assam Administrative Staff College in Khanapara.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Justice Michael Zothankhuma, Judge of the Gauhati High Court and Executive Chairman of ASLSA, Assam Director General of Police Harmeet Singh, other High Court judges and senior representatives from the judiciary, government and police.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar highlighted the need to make children’s experiences within the justice system safe and supportive. He described NYAYA PRAVAH as a long-term institutional commitment to addressing the challenges children face during judicial proceedings through coordinated efforts, systematic planning and effective implementation.
Justice Michael Zothankhuma spoke about the lasting influence of childhood experiences and emphasised the role of families in nurturing and protecting children. He also underlined the importance of building a strong justice system that remains sensitive to children’s needs.
He said the launch on Children’s Day offered an opportunity to translate child protection legislation into meaningful action.
DGP Harmeet Singh stressed that empathy and compassion should guide every stakeholder dealing with children. He said the initiative could help foster greater sensitivity among officials and functionaries involved in the justice delivery system.
ASLSA Member Secretary Debashish Bhattacharjee and UTSAH Child Rights Organisation founder Miguel Das Queah described NYAYA PRAVAH as a long-term institutional partnership aimed at strengthening child rights within the justice delivery framework.
During the programme, ASLSA also released a publication titled Justice at the Doorstep.
Capacity-building session on POCSO Act
Following the inauguration, a day-long capacity-building programme on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was organised for judicial and medical officers.
The sessions were conducted by Gauhati High Court Judge Justice Kaushik Goswami and Dr C B Jani, President of the Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine.
The launch marks the beginning of a collaborative effort by judicial, legal and child rights institutions to strengthen child-friendly practices and promote a more sensitive justice delivery system across Assam.