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Supreme Court orders boards to keep juvenile names off media

By Drooid · Oct 11, 2026, 10:28 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Surya Kant Shields Children

Chief Justice Surya Kant said children in conflict with law must stay out of news and internet.
He urged destroying old records promptly and keeping children’s names off media.
Justice B.V. Nagarathna called for better data, stronger institutions, greater accountability, and child-sensitive adjudication.
A report said 55 % of cases were pending, 55,000 children awaited decisions, and 24 % of Boards lacked a full bench.

Summary

UNICEF Opens Consultation

Supreme Court released an e-compendium of landmark Juvenile Justice Act judgments covering 2015-Sept 2026.
Supreme Court hosted a two-day National Annual Stakeholders Consultation on Oct 10-11 2026.
UNICEF India country representative Cynthia McCaffrey opened the event, stressing partnership with the judiciary.
Judges, academy directors, secretaries and board members attended the consultation.
Technical sessions examined safeguards, child-protection machinery and non-institutional care in Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Delhi and Gujarat.

History

Historical Context

The 1990 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child entered into force, compelling signatories such as India to safeguard children’s privacy and welfare. UNICEF reported that 196 countries ratified the treaty by 2022, and India’s 2015 Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act incorporated its core principles. Today, Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice B.V. Nagarathna echo the convention’s mandate by urging anonymity for children in conflict with law and case resolution. The Supreme Court’s e-compendium and stakeholder consultations, supported by UNICEF India, aim to institutionalize child-sensitive adjudication, reducing the 55 % backlog noted in recent reports.

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Surya Kant Shields Children

Chief Justice Surya Kant said children in conflict with law must stay out of news and internet.
He urged destroying old records promptly and keeping children’s names off media.
Justice B.V. Nagarathna called for better data, stronger institutions, greater accountability, and child-sensitive adjudication.
A report said 55 % of cases were pending, 55,000 children awaited decisions, and 24 % of Boards lacked a full bench.

1 / 3