Alipurduar, May 17 -- Twelve years after Alipurduar gained separate district status in 2014, a dedicated Juvenile Justice Court has finally become operational in the district, marking a major step in strengthening its judicial infrastructure.
The new court was formally inaugurated at 10 am on Sunday through a colourful ceremony led by District Magistrate Mayuri Vasu. Several dignitaries, including the Superintendent of Police, Chief Judge of the District Court, other judges, and senior lawyers, were present at the programme. The court was officially launched with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and reportedly began full-fledged operations from the very first day.
The Alipurduar Sub-Divisional Court was upgraded to a District Court in 2023. With the addition of the new Juvenile Justice Court, the district court complex now has a total of 13 courtrooms.
Although Alipurduar became a separate district after the bifurcation of Jalpaiguri in 2014, it did not have a Juvenile Justice Court for more than a decade. As a result, all hearings related to juvenile offences had to be conducted in Jalpaiguri, forcing police officials, lawyers, and affected families to travel frequently between the two districts. The situation caused considerable inconvenience, delays, and additional financial burden on ordinary people.
With the new court now functioning in Alipurduar, all cases related to juvenile offences will be heard locally, eliminating the need to travel to Jalpaiguri.
Government lawyer Suhrid Majumdar said: "Though delayed, the commencement of the Juvenile Justice Court in Alipurduar will help ensure quicker disposal of cases related to juvenile offences and provide much-needed relief to litigants and their families."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.