NALSA Launches "Restoring The Youth" A Pan-India Campaign For Identifying Juveniles In Prisons And Rendering Legal Assistance 2024

The campaign, launched by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge, Supreme Court of India, and Executive Chairman, NALSA, will be from January 25th to February 27th, 2024. Its primary objective is to identify individuals currently incarcerated who were potentially minors at the time of the offense, assisting them in filing necessary applications for claiming juvenility before the appropriate court and facilitating their transfer to Child Care Institutions in identified cases.

Despite significant legal frameworks for the care and protection of children in conflict with the law, the challenge of ensuring access to justice persists. The campaign responds to a plea received by NALSA from a convict undergoing life imprisonment, claiming to have been a minor at the time of arrest in 2003.

The virtual launch event was attended by Executive Chairpersons, Member Secretaries, and other officials from all State Legal Services Authorities.

Ms. Santosh Snehi Mann, Member Secretary, NALSA, highlighted the progress made in the last two decades while acknowledging persistent concerns.

Justice Khanna inaugurating the launch emphasized, “Criminals are made by circumstances. No one is born a criminal. The path towards criminality is often a result and consequence of experiences and circumstances mostly shaped by neglect, external influences or lack of guidance”.

"Restoring the Youth" is a call to action, aligning with the principles of justice and the safeguarding of children's rights, marking a significant step towards a more humane and developmentally appropriate treatment of juvenile offenders.

Watch the launch here