Calcutta High Court Women Judges Hold Key Juvenile Justice Meeting in Durgapur

Focus on Collaborative Justice, Crime Reduction, and Child Welfare Across Four Districts

Baby Chakraborty | KalimNews | Kolkata | August 23, 2025 : In a rare but significant move, a team of women judges from the Calcutta High Court traveled from Kolkata to Durgapur on Saturday morning to participate in a high-level regional meeting focused on juvenile justice and child welfare. These are not just any judges—they are the same legal minds behind some of the state's most impactful verdicts, and they continue to oversee sensitive cases that shape West Bengal’s judicial landscape.

The gathering, organized under the supervision of the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Calcutta High Court, was hosted at the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s conference hall in Durgapur, in West Burdwan district. The event was held in collaboration with the Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department of the West Bengal Government, and brought together officials from four key districts: West Burdwan, East Burdwan, Birbhum, and Hooghly.

Security was tight around the SDM office from early morning, reflecting the significance of the occasion and the stature of the visiting dignitaries. Among those present were Justice Shampa Sarkar, Chairperson of the Calcutta High Court’s Juvenile Justice Committee, along with committee members Justice Amrita Sinha and Justice Smita Das De. The Juvenile Justice Secretariat was represented by Secretary Mau Chattopadhyay and Additional Secretary Payal Banerjee.

Judicial officers including District Judges, Additional District Judges, and Sub-divisional Court Judges from all four participating districts also joined the discussions, marking a robust inter-district judicial collaboration.

Speaking to the media, Additional District Magistrate of West Burdwan, Sanjay Pal, said, “This meeting brought together key judicial figures to discuss how the police, administration, and courts can work in coordination. The goal is not just effective justice delivery but also reducing crime and raising social awareness.”

The discussions focused on streamlining the juvenile justice process, ensuring proper rehabilitation measures, and promoting inter-agency cooperation. Judges emphasized the importance of sensitizing law enforcement and local authorities toward child protection, prevention of juvenile offenses, and rehabilitative justice rather than punitive approaches alone.

Beyond legal procedures, the meeting also highlighted the need for community involvement and awareness campaigns to address the root causes of juvenile crime and neglect. The cross-district coordination is expected to pave the way for more consistent and child-friendly practices across the region.

This initiative underscores the growing importance of integrated, grassroots-level judicial engagement, especially in matters concerning children and vulnerable populations. As the judiciary steps beyond the courtroom to interact directly with administrative and enforcement agencies, the move signals a progressive shift in how justice is delivered and perceived in West Bengal.