Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court Ashutosh Kumar on Tuesday asserted that children must be treated as active stakeholders in society, stressing that they are “citizens of the present, not the future.”
Speaking at the Assam Police Sishu Mitra Lecture Series on institutionalising child-friendly practices across the justice delivery chain, Justice Kumar emphasised that safeguarding children’s rights is a shared responsibility of all institutions and citizens. He observed that while India has a robust legal framework for child protection, its true effectiveness depends on sensitive and empathetic implementation on the ground.
The Chief Justice highlighted the historical evolution of child rights jurisprudence and called for a more compassionate, child-centric approach within the policing and judicial systems. He urged stakeholders to strengthen mechanisms that make justice processes more accessible and less intimidating for children.
Senior police officials present at the event echoed the need to further institutionalise child-friendly practices and enhance coordination among agencies dealing with child protection.
The lecture series is part of ongoing efforts in Assam to promote child-sensitive policing and reinforce safeguards for minors within the justice system.
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