New Juvenile Justice Board Building Inaugurated in Pune; Justice Revati Mohite Dere Emphasizes Rehabilitation Over Punishment
Pune, 4th August 2025: Justice Revati Mohite Dere of the Bombay High Court inaugurated the new building of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in Yerwada, Pune. Addressing the gathering, she underscored the need to redirect the energy of children in conflict with the law toward constructive paths, helping them achieve success in life rather than being pushed further into crime due to lack of early guidance.
The event was chaired by Principal District and Sessions Judge Mahendra K. Mahajan and attended by several dignitaries, including Women and Child Development Commissioner Nayana Gunde, Principal Magistrate of the JJB G.N. Bagdoria, Additional Magistrate L.K. Sapkal, Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa Vice President Adv. Rajendra Umap, members Adv. Harshad Nimbalkar and A.U. Pathan, and Pune Bar Association President Hemant Zanjad.
Justice Mohite Dere noted that Pune has a high number of pending juvenile cases, which prompted the establishment of this additional board. She emphasized the importance of providing proper support systems in observation homes, highlighting the Dongri facility as a national model. She cited initiatives such as basketball courts, de-addiction centers, colorful rooms, therapeutic film screenings, and counselling systems that have positively impacted the rehabilitation of juvenile detainees. Similar reforms will be introduced across the state’s observation homes, she added.
Judge Mahajan revealed that Pune currently has nearly 5,000 pending juvenile cases, with around 1,200 new cases being registered and resolved each year. The addition of a new board is expected to expedite case resolution. The new facility will also accommodate 40 children in a dedicated space.
Commissioner Nayana Gunde highlighted the Women and Child Development Department’s steps to improve case clearance. So far, additional members have been appointed in six districts, with plans to cover the remaining soon. She also detailed state initiatives, including the issuance of orphan certificates to 10,000 children, recruitment of 740 orphaned youths under government job quotas between 2023 and 2025, and monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,250 under the Child Welfare Scheme to over one lakh children. Additionally, 33,000 children who lost parents to COVID-19 have received Rs 4,000 monthly via DBT under the Centre’s Mission Vatsalya.
In his opening remarks, Hemant Zanjad stressed the legal community’s support in ensuring child welfare. The event was attended by various judges, judicial officers, child development officials, and local citizens.
