Patna, Jan. 31: Most juveniles turn adults by the time judgment is given out in their cases. Experts blame inadequate number of child welfare committees and slow legal system for delayed justice to juveniles in the state.

Mansoor Qadri, child protection specialist, Unicef, Patna chapter, and other legal experts elaborated on these issues at a daylong sensitising workshop — Special Juvenile Police Unit — at a city hotel today.

Citing instances where cases related to juveniles have gone on for years before the final order is pronounced, Qadri said: “The number of cases related to juveniles is alarming in Bihar. There are almost 17,000 pending cases. Some of the cases are awaiting judgment since 1992. The cases need to be resolved and we need to address the issue seriously.”

Three superintendents of police (SPs), 25 deputy superintendents of police and 18 sub-inspectors attended the workshop today. They were informed about the rights, obligations and responsibilities related to Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007, by various experts.

The workshop was organised by the criminal investigation department and Unicef, Patna. High court advocate Anshuman Pandey, Patna Child Welfare Committee former chairperson Daisy Narain and Qadri among others, deliberated on the topic.

Pandey talked about the various provisions of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007. “Juveniles should not be handcuffed or chained while being taken into custody and police officers should be in plain clothes while approaching the child. The particular act has been made in order to reform the children.”