Imphal, March 06 2009: Acting on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) the Gauhati High Court today issued notices to the Government of manipur's secretary (law and Legislative Affairs), Director (social Welfare Department) and the Director General of Police concerning implementation of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000. A Division Bench comprising Justices Maibam Binoykumar Singh and AC Upadhyay served the notice based on a PIL filed by one wahengbam Joykumar - a progressive social activist, informed a Human Rights Law network statement.

The petitioner is said to have pointed out to the State respondents regarding enactment of the Juvenile Justice Act by the Indian Parliament on December 30, 2000 and an amendment six years later that is more children-friendly envisaging proper care and protection of Children.

However, as the State Government has taken no tangible action on the matter even after lapse of eight years with the effect that the Respondents' obligation to establish various statutory bodies and institutions for effective implementation of the Act remains null and void till date, the Network maintained.

W Joykumar is also said to have formally approached the listed officials to do the needful which is yet to evoke any positive response, thereby leading to the compulsion of filing the petition before the Court, the Network under whose active initiative the PIL was filed, added.

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