The Union government has asked people of Jammu and Kashmir to desist from using children for stone-pelting in the Union territory, as they will now receive strictest punishment under the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA).

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Union Minister Jitendra Singh insisted on strict implementation of the JJA in J&K under which those using children for stone-pelting and other illegal activities “will now face rigorous imprisonment of up to seven years”. He went on to add that using or inducing children to stone-pelting is “not only a crime in the eyes of law but also a crime against humanity”.

“The JJA has now become applicable in J&K, following the abrogation of Article 370 and reorganisation of the erstwhile state into two UTs,” the ministry said in the statement, which noted that the minister was on Sunday briefed about the law against using children as ‘stone-pelters’.

According to the official statement, Jitendra Singh also emphasised the need for strict implementation of the JJA. Use of children for illegal activities would invite rigorous imprisonment up to seven years and a fine of Rs 5 lakh, it added.

Chairman of the National Commission for Protection for Child Rights (NCPCR) Priyank Kanoongo met Jitendra Singh and discussed the important issues concerning the rights of children in J&K and Ladakh that had emerged from the analysis recently conducted by the organisation.

Kanoongo informed Jitendra Singh that as per Section 83 (1) of the JJA, 2015, any non-state, self-styled militant group or outfit declared as such by the Central government, if recruits or uses any child for any purpose, shall be liable for rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine of Rs 5 lakh.

This, by implication, means that anyone responsible for inducing or using children in stone-pelting or any other violent activity will face serious action under the law, the statement noted.

7-yr rigorous imprisonment, Rs5-lakh fine

As per Section 83 (1) of the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA), 2015, any non-state, self-styled militant group or outfit declared as such by the Central government, if recruits or uses any child for any purpose, shall be liable for rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine of Rs5 lakh.

Courtesy: Daily Tribune : 15th February 2021