The latest high court judgement on minors elopement and marriages has made me think about how differently we treat our children when it comes to their being a victim, or as those in conflict with law. The basis of seperate legislation for children is that they are not mature enough to know the consequences of their act and need reform and support to tread the correct path. now even the medical experiments have established that the frontal lobe of the person continues to grow till the age of 25, which basically decides on the persons ability to consider the consequences of his/ her act.

when we consider the case of minor eloping, we are ignoring this fact and invariable even in other cases of kidnapping where the age of the prosecutrix is determined through the medical board the benefit is given to the higher age in the range. However, when dealing with a juvenile in conflict situation this benefit is given of the lower age of the range suggested by the medical board and we never consider the mental maturity and understanding of the juvenile while treating him as a juvenile. these are the anomolies that needs to be addressed.

Negative impacts of insensitive coverage

• Increase in a child`s anxiety level.
• It can cause psychological harm to the child.
• It can lead to social stigma and can effect their socialization.
• It can cause feelings of guilt, shame and humiliation.
• Interviews can expose these children to further trauma .
  

Do you think that the current media coverage of children in crisis is sensitive to their needs and in their best interest? How can one ensure responsible coverage of these children.

repeatedly the courts are considering the question of keeping records of the juveniles. what are your veiws on that?

There are no special laws dealing with child pornography in India. As per section 292 of the IPC, whosoever, (a) sells, lets to hire, distributes, publicly exhibits or in any manner puts into circulation, or for purposes of sale, hire, distribution, public exhibition or circulation, makes, produces or has in his possession any obscene book, pamphlet, paper, drawing, painting, representation or figure or any other obscene object whatsoever, or (b) imports, exports or conveys any obscene object for any of the purposes aforesaid, or knowing or having reason to believe that such object will be sold, let to hire, distributed or publicly exhibited or in any manner put into circulation, or (c) takes part in or receives profits from any business in the course of which he knows or has reason to believe that any such obscene objects are for any of the purposes aforesaid, made, produced, purchased, kept, imported, exported, conveyed, publicly exhibited or in any manner put into circulation, or (d) advertises or makes known by any means whatsoever that any person is engaged or is ready to engage in any act which is an offence under this section, or that any such obscene object can be procured from or through any person, or (e) offers or attempts to do any act which is an offence under this section, shall be punished 140[on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, and with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, and, in the event of a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and also with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees]. this this is the only law addressing pornography wherein the definition of obscinity is too subjective. it is silent on issue of child pornography and even the Juvenile Justice Act is silent on this issue. It is my opinion that we need stricter laws on this issue. Please send in your comments.

Invariably in cases of domestic violence the worst sufferers are the children. they are often subjected to emotional, sexual and physical abuse by one of the spouses and while dealing with the complaints of domestic violence, this issue is rarely addressed. However, this need not be so. Section 23 of the JJ Act deals with "Punishment for cruelty to juvenile or child" and states that "whoever, having the actual charge of, or control over, a juvenile or the child, assaults, abandons, exposes or wilfully neglects the juvenile or causes or procures him to be assaulted, abandoned, exposed or neglected in any manner likely to cause such juvenile or the child unnecessary mental or physical suffering, he shall be punishable with imprisonment unto six months, or fine, or with both." As per Rule 18 of the Delhi JJ Rules, section 23 is cognizable. There is a need to understand and address this issue and apply this law whereever made out.