Journalism with a Human Touch vs India's Juvenile Justice Act

Quote by Mr Philip Mathew, Managing Editor, The Week Vol 26 NO 5 Dec 24-Dec 30, 2007 goes as "Journalism with a Human Touch means much more than writing about people behind the story and the story behind the people. The Human Touch signifies compassion, a deep sense of fairness, a concern for human dignity, a crusading temperament. As the magazine celebrates its silver jubilee, we renew our resolve to practice Journalism with a Human Touch with greater vigour. "

With all the hype of Human Touch, the same magazine in its January 20, 2008 has covered the news of the boy shooting in the Government High School Satna District giving nothing to be imagined details about the identity of the juvenile who is in conflict with law. The juvenile’s name including his photograph, his father’s name and background, his uncle’s name and background and what else not has been duly published.

What does the law of the land say in this context? Section 21 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 (56 of 2000) as amended by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act, 2006 (33 of 2006)., states that: “Prohibition of publication of name, etc., of juvenile or child in need of care and protection involved in any proceeding under the Act-(1) No report in any newspaper, magazine, news-sheet or visual media of any inquiry regarding a juvenile in conflict with law or a child in need of care and protection under this Act shall disclose the name, address or school or any other particulars calculated to lead to the identification of the juvenile or child shall nor shall any picture of any such juvenile or child shall be published: Provided that for any reason to be recorded in writing, the authority holding the inquiry may permit such disclosure, if in its opinion such disclosure is in the interest of the juvenile or the child. (2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1), shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees”.

Its high time for the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in India, as per section 13(1)(a) of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 to examine the safeguards provided by or under the Juvenile Justice Act (Care and Protection) of Children Act, 2000 and also recommend measures for the effective implementation of the safeguards provided.

More than Journalism with a Human Touch, the need of the hour is Journalism respecting Human Rights.

For a Magazine with 25 years of reputation, paying Rupees 25 Thousand penalty may be no problem but the issue is how many more years to go for our media mature to report about juvenile in conflict with law?

Arjun Natarajan
V.M. Salgaocar College of Law (VMSCL) student
Panaji, Goa 403 001 India
arjun.vmslaw@gmail.com

About Arjun Natarajan: I attach immense importance to the rule of law and the right to fair trial, with special emphasis as regards juveniles in conflict with law and I am a proud student of V.M. Salgaocar College of Law (VMSCL) Goa which has been taking great strides in improving the quality of legal education in India.

This release was published on openPR.