A State Level Consultation on ‘Safeguarding the Girl Child: Towards a Safer and Enabling Environment for Her in India’ was organised by the High Court Special Cell for POCSO Committee & Juvenile Justice Committee in association with the Chhattisgarh State Judicial Academy and Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority, Bilaspur. The event brought together representatives of the judiciary, government departments, law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and civil society organisations. The Chief Guest, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice, High Court of Chhattisgarh, inaugurated the programme.
The inaugural session was chaired by Hon’ble the Chief Justice along with Hon’ble Shri Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal, Hon’ble Smt Justice Rajani Dubey, and Hon’ble Shri Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi.
The Welcome & Introductory Address was delivered by Hon’ble Smt Justice Rajani Dubey. The Key Note Address was given by Hon’ble Shri Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal, and the Vote of Thanks was delivered by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bibhu Datta Guru.
The event was also graced by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Parth Prateem Sahu, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sachin Singh Rajput, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad.
Hon’ble the Chief Justice in his address emphasised that ensuring safety, dignity, and empowerment of the girl child is not only a legal responsibility but also a moral and constitutional duty. A safer environment for the girl child does not end with protection from harm. It begins with affirmative action — access to quality education, healthcare, freedom of expression, and equal opportunities. The goal is not only to prevent injustice but to empower.
In his impactful address, Hon’ble the Chief Justice expressed that safeguarding the girl child requires a multi-sectoral approach — health professionals to heal, police to protect, community to nurture, legal institutions to uphold rights, and above all, society to change its mindset. If we collectively commit ourselves to this vision, then we will succeed in creating not only a safer but also a truly enabling environment where every girl child in India can dream freely, grow fearlessly, and achieve her fullest potential.
In his remarks, Hon’ble the Chief Justice urged that every institution of governance must act as a guardian of children’s rights. It is our bounden duty to ensure that justice reaches every child who suffers. “The little girl child is the soul of India. We must hold her hands gently and let her walk into the future with dignity.” This vision calls upon us to act not out of charity, but out of justice and duty.
During the technical sessions, participants deliberated on a wide range of issues, including:
- Violence against girls in state, national, and global contexts, and review of flagship schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
- The role of teachers and officials in creating safe school environments and empowering girls through awareness.
- Contributions of NGOs in raising awareness and advocating for policy reforms.
- The importance of family and community support, gender sensitisation, and safe home environments.
- Identifying gaps and challenges in implementation of services and mechanisms for child protection.
- Understanding the psychological impact of violence on girls, and the need for early intervention and health awareness.
- Law enforcement mechanisms, investigation processes, and creating a child-friendly environment with the support of agencies like UNICEF.
- Review of the legal protection framework, including the role of Juvenile Justice Boards and the State Legal Services Authority.
The High Court Special Cell for POCSO Committee & Juvenile Justice Committee, in association with the Chhattisgarh State Judicial Academy and Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority, Bilaspur, released an informative leaflet titled “Role of Various Stakeholders Under Protection Of Children From Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act)”, aimed at creating awareness.
The leaflet was formally unveiled by the Chief Guest, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice, High Court of Chhattisgarh, Hon’ble Shri Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal, Hon’ble Smt Justice Rajani Dubey, and Hon’ble Shri Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi, Judges of the High Court of Chhattisgarh.
The consultation had two technical sessions, both chaired by Hon’ble Smt Justice Rajani Dubey, Judge, High Court of Chhattisgarh, and co-chaired by Hon’ble Shri Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bibhu Datta Guru, Judges of the High Court of Chhattisgarh.
The event was attended by the Principal Secretary (Law), Incharge Registrar General, officers of the Registry, Director & Officers of the CSJA, Member Secretary SLSA and officers of SLSA, Secretary of the Chhattisgarh High Court Legal Services Committee, Presiding Officers of F.T.S.C./F.T.C. Courts, Principal Magistrates of Juvenile Justice Boards, Secretaries of District Legal Services Authorities, trainee civil judges, Secretaries of Women and Child Development Department, Education Department, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, and representatives of the Social Welfare Department, Health Department, Inspector General of Bilaspur Range and representatives of the Police Department, Collector & Superintendent of Police Bilaspur, Chairperson and representatives of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, and representatives of UNICEF.
