Released on: January 22, 2008, 2:09 am

Press Release Author: Arjun Natarajan

Industry: Law

Press Release Summary: More than the hype of Journalism with a Human Touch, the need
of the hour in India is Journalism respecting Human Rights.

Press Release Body: \"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 highly respected and widely circulated
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 the media in India to
mature to report about juvenile in conflict with law?

About author Arjun Natarajan: I attach immense importance to the rule of law and the
right to fair trial, with special emphasis as regards juveniles in conflict with law
and I am a proud student of V.M. Salgaocar College of Law (VMSCL) Goa which has been
taking great strides in improving the quality of legal education in India.

Web Site: http://www.vmslaw.edu/

Contact Details: Arjun Natarajan
Student of V.M. Salgaocar College of Law
Panaji, Pin 403 001 Goa India
arjun.vmslaw@gmail.com
http://www.vmslaw.edu/