CJI Surya Kant flags digital stigma for children in conflict with law, calls for timely destruction of records | Video
At a consultation marking ten years of the Juvenile Justice Act, Chief Justice Surya Kant warned that lasting digital stigma can harm children in conflict with the law. He called for old records to be destroyed on time and for children’s identities to remain private.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has warned that children involved in criminal activities can face long-term digital stigma. He emphasized the importance of promptly destroying old records and keeping children's identities out of media coverage and online platforms. Kant spoke at the inauguration of the National Consultation on the 10th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
He stressed that rehabilitation must extend beyond institutional care, allowing children to reintegrate into their families, schools, and communities without facing stigma. Kant highlighted that the reintegration process is crucial for rehabilitation and stressed that records should be destroyed on time to prevent children's identities and past cases from remaining accessible online for years.
He expressed hope that the two-day consultation would provide a platform for high court judges, state officials, stakeholders, and experts to share experiences and discuss effective practices in their respective jurisdictions. Kant urged participants to leave the consultation with at least one practice they can adopt in their own jurisdictions.
He reiterated that old records must be destroyed on time and that children in conflict with the law should be kept out of the news and off the internet.
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