Guwahati:  The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 to introduce measures for strengthening Child Protection set-up to ensure best interest of children.

The amendments include authorizing District Magistrate including Additional District Magistrate to issue adoption orders under Section 61 of the JJ Act, in order to ensure speedy disposal of cases and enhance accountability.

The District Magistrates have been further empowered under the Act, to ensure its smooth implementation, as well as garner synergized efforts in favour of children in distress conditions.

Addressing the media on the Cabinet decision, Women and Child Development minister Smriti Irani said that in every district, the district magistrate and the additional will get the power to monitor functions of agencies responsible for the implementation of the Act.

The DM can independently evaluate a specialized CWC, juvenile police unit and registered institutions. The scope of the Juvenile Justice Act has been expanded.

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