Human Rights, Juvenile Justice and Journalism with a Human Touch in India

PR Log (Press Release) – Jan 22, 2008 – "Reporting of news with a human touch is the most important and challenging work in journalism", says Ms. Veerawan Vararuth, Head of Print and Radio News Department, Thai News Agency, Mass Communications Organization of Thailand. (MCOT)..

" Journalism with a Human Touch means much more than writing about people behind the story and the story behind the people. The Human Touch signifies compassion, a deep sense of fairness, a concern for human dignity, a crusading temperament. “As the magazine celebrates its silver jubilee, we renew our resolve to practice Journalism with a Human Touch with greater vigour" says Mr Philip Mathew, Managing Editor, The Week Vol 26 NO 5 Dec 24-Dec 30, 2007.

With all the hype of Human Touch, the esteemed magazine The Week in its January 20, 2008 has covered the news of the boy shooting in the Government High School Satna District giving nothing to be imagined details about the identity of the juvenile who is in conflict with law. The juvenile’s name including his photograph, his father’s name and background, his uncle’s name and background and what else not has been duly published.

What does the law of the land say in this context? Section 21 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 (56 of 2000) as amended by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act, 2006 (33 of 2006)., states that: “Prohibition of publication of name, etc., of juvenile or child in need of care and protection involved in any proceeding under the Act-(1) No report in any newspaper, magazine, news-sheet or visual media of any inquiry regarding a juvenile in conflict with law or a child in need of care and protection under this Act shall disclose the name, address or school or any other particulars calculated to lead to the identification of the juvenile or child shall nor shall any picture of any such juvenile or child shall be published: Provided that for any reason to be recorded in writing, the authority holding the inquiry may permit such disclosure, if in its opinion such disclosure is in the interest of the juvenile or the child. (2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1), shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees”.

Its high time for the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in India, as per section 13(1)(a) of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 to examine the safeguards provided by or under the Juvenile Justice Act (Care and Protection) of Children Act, 2000 and also recommend measures for the effective implementation of the safeguards provided.

For a Magazine with 25 years of reputation, paying Rupees 25 Thousand penalty may be no problem but the issue is how many more years to go for our media to mature to report about juvenile in conflict with law?