SC annoyed over states' failure to set up juvenile homes

The failure of state governments to set up Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) and observation homes in each district on Monday annoyed the Supreme Court which expressed its helplessness over monitoring matters relating to social issues for long. "How long one can handle such litigations," a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said. "Despite all efforts pendency of cases has increased," the Bench said adding that "the courts cannot have control over everything". The Bench made the observation when it was informed that most state governments had failed to comply with its 3rd January, 2007 order to set up JJBs and a Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in each district. The PIL filed by Sampurna Behrua pointed out that in the absence of juvenile homes, minors against whom criminal cases are registered were being kept either in jail or in the police lock-up, exposing them to other criminals. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Behrua, reminded the Bench about its 13th December, 2007 order asking Chief Secretaries to a file response. He said since then nothing has moved and some degree of seriousness was required. He said the court should take action against states which have failed to comply with its orders. "The state governments are taking chance with the court and some strict action was required against them," he said. The counsel particularly targeted governments of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for their failure to establish JJBs and CWCs.

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