Shopian : In a bid to ensure the strict implementation of child protection laws, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) Shopian, under the leadership of Principal Magistrate, Bazila Bashir, Wednesday conducted a comprehensive inspection of Police Station Imam Sahib and Police Post Keegam.
The inspection was carried out under the statutory powers vested under Section 8 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which mandates periodic inspections of facilities where juveniles may potentially be detained. The primary objective was to ensure compliance to juvenile justice protocols and ensure that no child is held in contravention of the law.
The inspection was conducted by a dedicated team comprising Rafie Ahmad Ganie, Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC), Shopian; Nighat Meharbaan, Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP); Amir Ayoub, Assistant Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC) Shopian and Sumaira Imtiyaz, Legal-cum-Probation Officer (LcPO).
During the visit, the team undertook a meticulous review of detention records and custody documentation, conducted physical inspections of holding areas and interrogation rooms, scrutinized age-determination procedures and assessed overall compliance with juvenile-specific legal and procedural safeguards.
Following thorough examination of records and physical verification of all individuals in custody, the inspection team confirmed that no juveniles were presently lodged at Police Station Imam Sahib or Police Post Keegam.
Principal Magistrate, Bazila Bashir emphasized the need for constant vigilance and issued on-the-spot directions to police personnel, underscoring the importance of correct identification, humane treatment and lawful processing of any juvenile in conflict with the law, strictly in accordance with the provisions of the JJ Act.
