Shift juvenile court to Pune's Shivajinagar: Lawyers

The Pune Bar Association (PBA) on Monday demanded relocation of the juvenile justice court from Yerawada to a location near the Pune district court in Shivajinagar for the sake of convenience of  children’s parents and advocates alike.

The Pune district court authorities on June 6 shifted the juvenile justice court to Yerawada from the Child Rehabilitation Centre near the office of the India Meteorological Department in Shivajinagar. It is holding trials of more than 4,500 cases of alleged juvenile delinquency.

President of PBA, Dhananjay Taur, said it was inconvenient for parents of the suspects and their lawyers to travel from Shivajinagar to Yerawada to attend court. Admitting that the juvenile justice court cannot be located on the district court premises as per provisions of law, he said it could be located in Shivajinagar area.

“It is the most suitable place for the juvenile justice court to function, as it is located in the central part of the district and the city,” Taur said.

The jurisdiction of the juvenile justice court includes 14 talukas of Pune district, the areas falling under the Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and cantonments in the district.

In its new location in Yerawada, the court functions everyday, unlike earlier when it used to function thrice a week. Taur said the PBA has decided to submit a memorandum to the Bombay high court to take note of the matter and redress its grievance.