Revealing juvenile identities in crime cases: Principal Magistrate JJB Baramulla warns media, social media users over violations

Baramulla, Jun 21: Principal Magistrate Juvenile justice Board Baramulla, Altaf Ahmad Mir, on Saturday said that revealing the identity or location of a juvenile involved in any crime is a punishable offence under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.

Speaking during a meeting with media representatives in Baramulla, Mir said that the legal and ethical responsibility of media houses and content creators, especially on social media platforms, is to protect the privacy of minors involved in criminal cases, whether as victims or accused.

“Revealing the identity or the location of a juvenile can lead to legal action. The law is very clear on this matter, and violations are treated seriously,” said Principal Magistrate JJB Baramulla.  He expressed particular concern over the growing trend on social media where users often share sensitive information without considering its legal implications. “People on social media show no responsibility. Their acts of disclosing identities or locations of juveniles involved in crimes are punishable under the Juvenile Justice Act,” he warned.

Referring to the recent Kunzar incident, the Principal Judge criticized the conduct of several media outlets and Facebook page administrators, accusing them of displaying “gross irresponsibility” by revealing the identity of the juvenile involved.  “Such actions are a blatant violation of the law and can have serious consequences,” he added. The Principal Magistrate JJB urged media personnel and social media users to exercise restraint and follow journalistic ethics while reporting on juvenile cases, stressing the importance of safeguarding the rights and dignity of minors. "The right to information is vital, it must be balanced with the legal and moral duty to protect vulnerable individuals, especially children, from further harm," he said.  He said the aim of juvenile justice is not to punish the minor culprit but to reform them into civilised citizens who can actively contribute to the society.  "Through media trails, the juvenile perpetrator of a crime is made vulnerable to social stigmatisation and also makes their families a target," he said.