HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF JUVENILE JUSTICE LAW IN INDIA

o In India, the first law to address children in conflict with the law was
the Apprentices Act of 1850. This act provides courts with the
option of treating children and youth who had committed offenses as
apprentices rather than locking them up in prison.
o The Reformatory Schools Act of 1876 was the second law that dealt
with juvenile offenders.
o Post-Independence in 1960, the Children Act, 1960 was passed to
provide the care, maintenance, protection, welfare, education,
training, trial, and rehabilitation of abused and neglected children.
o In 1986, The Juvenile Justice Act 1986 w.e.f October 2,1987 was
passed, which established a single set of rules for the entire nation.
o As a result of India’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on
the Rights of the Child, which made it necessary to have a law that
complied with the Convention’s requirements, the JJ Act of 1986 was
repealed in 2000 as The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
Children) Act 2000 which came into force w.e.f. December 30, 2000.
o Finally, The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children)
Act, 2015 repeals the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
Children) Act, 2000.

ABOUT THE ACT

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 has
come into force from January 15, 2016. It extends to whole of India. It was
introduced by Maneka Gandhi, Ministry of Women and Child Development.
It provides for strengthened provisions for both children in need of care and
protection and children in conflict with law. It indicated a new era of juvenile
justice in India by introducing the provision of transfer of 16-18 years old
children alleged to have committed a heinous offence to an adult criminal
court. The Juvenile Justice Board have been given the responsibilities of
determining age, determining whether the offence is heinous, conducting a
preliminary assessment and then taking the decision whether to transfer or
not to transfer the child to the children’s court. The children’s court, then is
required to reassess if the child so transferred should be tried as a child or
as an adult.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The UN Convention on Rights of Children, ratified by India on Dec 11,

1992, requires the State Parties to undertake all appropriate measures in
case of a child alleged as, or accused of, violating any penal law including,

a) treatment of the child in a manner consistent with the promotion of the

child’s sense of dignity and worth,

b) reinforcing the child’s respect for the human rights and fundamental
freedom of others,

c) taking into account the child’s age and the desirability of promoting the
child’s reintegration and the child’s assuming a constructive role in society.
Article 15(3), 39(e) & (f), 45, 47 of Constitution of India states the
empowerment to make special provisions for children which provides that
the State shall have to follow certain principles of policy towards securing
that the tender age of children are not abused and they are given
opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions
of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against
exploitation and against moral and material abandonment and State shall
endeavour to provide early childhood care and education until they complete
the age of six years.

KEY PROVISIONS/FEATURES OF THE ACT

1. Preamble states that the Act is aimed at providing the basic needs
through proper care, protection, development, treatment, social re-
integration by adopting a child-friendly approach in the adjudication
and disposal of matters in the best interest of children and for their
rehabilitation.
2. Also known as Reformatory Act as it deals with three main
categories of children: Child in conflict with law, Child in Need of
Care and Protection and Child in contact with law.

3. Introduced legislative classification of offences into three

categories: petty, serious and heinous. The JJ law in the country has
been heavily debated in the aftermath of the Nirbhaya Rape Case
leading to even a change in the law as per which children between the
ages of 16-18 as now be tries as adults for heinous crimes. Therefore,
all children below 18 years are treated equally except that those in age
group of 16-18 can be tries as adults if they commit a heinous crime.

4. Clarity in powers, function and responsibilities of Juvenile Justice

Board (JJB) and Child Welfare Committee (CWC); clear timelines for
inquiry by Juvenile Justice Board (JJB); The Act mandates setting up
Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committees in every
district with a Metropolitan Magistrate and 2 social workers including
at least one woman member each. This Act provides that those in 16-
18 age group will be examined by JJB to assess if crime was
committed as child or adult.

5. Special provisions for heinous offences committed by children

above the age of sixteen years - Under Section 15, special provisions
have been made to tackle child offenders committing heinous offences
in the age group of 16-18 years. The Juvenile Justice Board has
provided discretionary power to transfer cases of heinous
offences by such children to a Children’s Court (Court of Session)
after conducting preliminary assessment. The provisions provide for
placing children in a ‘place of safety’ both during and after the trial till
they attain the age of 21 years after which an evaluation of the child
shall be conducted by the Children’s Court. After the evaluation, the
child is either released on probation and if the child is not reformed
then the child will be sent to a jail for remaining term. The law will act
as a deterrent for child offenders committing heinous offences such as
rape and murder and will protect the rights of victim.
6. Separate new chapter on Adoption to streamline adoption of
orphan, abandoned and surrendered children - To streamline
adoption procedures for orphan, abandoned and surrendered
children, the existing Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is
given the status of a statutory body to enable it to perform its function
more effectively. Separate chapter (VIII) on Adoption provides for
detailed provisions relating to adoption and punishments for not
complying with the laid down procedure. Processes have been
streamlined with timelines for both in-country and inter-country
adoption including declaring a child legally free for adoption. As per
the provisions, a single or divorced person can also adopt, but a single
male cannot adopt a girl child.

7. Inclusion of new offences committed against children - Several

new offences committed against children, which are so far not
adequately covered under any other law, are included in the Act.
These include: sale and procurement of children for any purpose
including illegal adoption, corporal punishment in child care
institutions, use of child by militant groups, offences against disabled
children and, kidnapping and abduction of children.

8. Penalties for cruelty against a child, offering a narcotic substance

to a child, and abduction or selling a child have been prescribed. Any
official, who does not report an abandoned or orphaned child within
24 hours, is liable to imprisonment up to six months or fine of Rs
10,000 or both. The penalty for non-registration of child care
institutions is imprisonment up to one year or fine of one lakh rupees,
or both. The penalty for giving a child intoxicating liquor, narcotic or
psychotropic substances is imprisonment up to seven years or fine of
one lakh rupees, or both.

9. Mandatory registration of Child Care Institutions - All child care

institutions, whether run by State Government or by voluntary or
non-governmental organisations, which are meant, either wholly or
partially for housing children, regardless of whether they receive
grants from the Government, are to be mandatorily registered under
the Act within 6 months from the date of commencement of the Act.
Stringent penalty is provided in the law in case of non-compliance.

10. Several rehabilitation and social reintegration measures have

been provided for children in conflict with law and those in need of
care and protection. Under the institutional care, children are
provided with various services including education, health, nutrition,
de-addiction, treatment of diseases, vocational training, skill
development, life skill education, counselling, etc to help them
assume a constructive role in the society. The variety of non-
institutional options include: sponsorship and foster care including
group foster care for placing children in a family environment which
is other than child’s biological family, which is to be selected,
qualified, approved and supervised for providing care to children.
Role of State Governments

The Act provides for induction training of Members of Juvenile Justice

Board and Child Welfare Committee within two months of their appointment
(Section s 4 and 27). The Chief Judicial Magistrate or Chief Metropolitan
Magistrate is to review pendency of cases in the Juvenile Justice Board once
in three months and direct the Board to increase the frequency of sittings or
recommend constitution of additional Board (Section 16). There is a
provision for the constitution of a High Level Committee to review the
pendency of cases in the Juvenile Justice Board.

Under Section 36 of the JJ Act , 2015 Child Welfare Committees are

expected to submit quarterly reports to the District Magistrate regarding
pendency and nature of disposal of cases. The District Magistrate is
expected to conduct quarterly review of the Child Welfare Committees and
direct remedial measures to address the pendency. The District Magistrate
shall send a report of his review to the State Government which may cause
the constitution of additional committees, if required. If the pendency of
cases continues even after three months, the State Government shall
terminate the existing Committee and constitute a new Committee.

The State Governments have also to register all institutions within six
months of the commencement of the JJ Act, 2015 whether such institutions
are run by the Government or by an NGO and are meant either wholly or
partially for housing children. The requirement of registration of institutions
is irrespective of whether they are receiving grants from Government or not.
The State Government is expected to issue a provisional registration
certificate to the institution within one month from the date of application.
There is also penalty provided of one year imprisonment or fine of not less
than Rs. 1 lakh for non registration of a Child Care Institution (Section 42).

The State Governments are also, as per section 49 of the Act supposed to set
up atleast one Place of Safety for placing persons above 18 years of age or
children between the age of 16 - 18 years who have committed a heinous
offence. Inspection Committees are to be appointed both for the state and
the district level and these Inspection Committees are to mandatorily
inspect all institutions atleast once in three months (Section 54). Under
Section 55, the Central and State Government may conduct independent
evaluation of the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board, Child Welfare
Committee, Special Juvenile Police Unit, registered institutions, fit facilities
and fit persons through such persons or institutions as may be prescribed
by the government.

In so far as adoption is concerned, the State Government shall, under

Section 65 of the Act, recognize one or more institutions in each district as a
Specialized Adoption Agency. The State Agency has to furnish the name,
address and contact details of the Specialized Adoption Agencies along with
copies of certificate and letter of recognition or renewal to the Central
Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). The state government has to get every
Specialized Adoption Agency inspected atleast once in a year and take
remedial measures. The Act provides for upto a fine of Rs. 50,000/ - in case
of default by the Specialized Adoption Agency besides withdrawal of
recognition in respect of repeated default.

All institutions registered under the JJ Act, 2015 which may not have been
recognized as Specialized Adoption Agency shall develop formal linkages
with nearby Specialized Adoption Agency and get all orphans or surrendered
or abandoned children declared legally free for adoption. Any contravention
of this provision is also liable to fine of Rs. 50,000/ - and de-recognition in
case of persistent flouting of provisions (Section 66).

The Act requires the Central and State Governments to spread awareness
regarding the provisions of the Act to the general public, children, parents
and guardians. Officers of the Government are to be imparted periodic
training besides other concerned persons (Section 108).

Institutional Care

The Child Care Institutions in respect of children in conflict with law are the
Observation Home, Special Home, Place of Safety and fit facility. For
children in need of care and protection, Open Shelters, Children Home and
Special Adoption Agencies have specific roles to play. All Child Care
Institutions have to be mandatorily registered within six months from the
date of commencement of the Act and failure to do so is a punishable
offence. Registration applications of Child Care Institutions are to be
disposed of within six months otherwise it would be considered as
dereliction of duty and will invite departmental proceedings (Section 41).

Children in Conflict with Law

The new Act strengthens the protective approach provided by the juvenile
justice system towards children in conflict with law as well as children in
need of care and protection. The 'Juvenile' in conflict with law has been
redefined in the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 as a 'child in conflict with law’.
Offences have been categorized as petty/ serious/ heinous offences.
Children in the age group of 16 - 18 years may be tried as adults in cases of
heinous offences after preliminary assessment by the Juvenile Justice
Board.
A child in conflict with law will be sent to an Observation Home temporarily
during pendency of inquiry. The child will be segregated according to age,
gender, physical and mental status and nature of offence. A child who is
found to have committed an offence by the Juvenile Justice Board will be
placed in a Special Home. A Place of Safety will be setup for children above
the age of 18 years or children of the age group of 16 - 18 years who are
accused or convicted for committing a heinous offence. The Place of Safety
will have separate arrangement and facilities for under trial children and
convicted children. The Juvenile Justice Board will conduct regular
inspection of jails meant for adults to check if any child is lodged in such
jails and take immediate measures for transfer of such a child to the
Observation Home [Section 8 (3) (m)].
The preliminary assessment by the Juvenile Justice Board is to be
conducted within three months before transferring the case to the Children‘s
Court. The Act mandates that in case the child is tried as an adult by the
Children‘s Court, it shall ensure that the final order includes an individual
care plan for the rehabilitation of child, including follow up by the probation
officer or the District Child Protection Unit or a social worker. The Children‘s
Court shall ensure that the child is kept in place of safety till he attains the
age of twenty - one years. When he attains the age and the term is still
pending, the Children‘s court shall evaluate whether he need to be
transferred to jail or if he has undergone reformative changes and could be
spared incarceration. The Act puts a complete embargo on capital
punishment or life imprisonment without the possibility of release for the
child offenders who come to be treated as adults by the juvenile justice
administration. The decision whether the child is to be released or sent to
jail after attaining the age of 21 years will be taken by the Children‘s Court.

Children in Need of Care and Protection

A child in need of care and protection is to be produced before the Child

Welfare Committee within 24 hours. The Act provides for mandatory
reporting of a child found separated from his/her guardian. Non reporting
has been treated as a punishable offence. The Child Welfare Committee is to
send the child in need of care and protection to the appropriate Child Care
Institution and direct a Social Worker, Case Worker or the Child Welfare
Officer to conduct the social investigation within 15 days. The Child Welfare
Committees shall meet atleast 20 days in a month and the District
Magistrate shall conduct a quarterly review of the functioning of the Child
Welfare Committee.

A child in need of care and protection will be placed in a Children‘s Home for
care, treatment, education, training, development and rehabilitation. The
Act provides for Open Shelters for Children in need of community support
on short term basis for protecting them from abuse or keeping them away
from a life on the streets. The Child Welfare Committee could recognize a
facility to be a Fit Facility to temporarily take the responsibility of a child.
The Specialized Adoption Agency is to take care of the rehabilitation of
orphans, abandoned or surrendered children.

Punishment for Offences Against Children

The JJ Act, 2015 includes a separate chapter on offences against child and
several of the offences listed in this chapter were so far not adequately
covered under any other law. These include sale and procurement of
children for any purpose including illegal adoption, corporal punishment in
child care institutions, giving children intoxicating liquor or narcotic drug or
psychotropic substance or tobacco products, use of child by militant or
adult groups, offences against disabled children and, kidnapping and
abduction of children. Further, the JJ Act , 2015 prescribes punishment for
the various offences against children such as enhanced punishment for
cruelty to children from six months to three years. The selling or buying of
children will be a punishable offence with imprisonment of five years.
Corporal punishment within a Child Care Institution will be a punishable
offence. Adoption without prescribed procedures shall be punishable with
imprisonment upto three years or fine of Rs.1 lakh or with both. For the
effective implementation of these provisions, JJ Model Rules, 2016 provides
for child friendly procedures for reporting, recording and trial.

Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration

The restoration and protection of a child shall be the prime objective of a

Children‘s Home/ Specialized Adoption Agency/ Open Shelter. The Child
Care Institution shall prepare Individual Care Plans for children in need of
care and protection or children in conflict with law, preferably through
family based care. Any child leaving a child care institution on attaining 18
years of age may be provided with financial support.

Monitoring

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights as well as State

Commission for Protection of Child Rights are mandated to monitor the
implementation of the provisions of the JJ Act, 2015 in such manner, as
may be prescribed (Section 109).