ANALYSIS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT AND SYSTEM IN INDIA

AUTHOR – PRATYUSH SHAHI* & MS. MANASVI AGARWAL**

* STUDENT AT AMITY UNIVERSITY LUCKNOW

** ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT AMITY UNIVERSITY LUCKNOW

BEST CITATION – PRATYUSH SHAHI & MS. MANASVI AGARWAL, ANALYSIS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT AND SYSTEM IN INDIA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (7) OF 2025, PG. 408-413, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344

ABSTRACT

The Juvenile Justice system in India aims to provide care, protection, and rehabilitation to children in conflict with the law while upholding their rights and ensuring their reintegration into society. Governed primarily by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the system distinguishes between juveniles and adult offenders, emphasizing reform over punishment. And the Act introduced significant reforms, including provisions for trying juveniles aged 16–18 as adults for heinous crimes, sparking debates on child rights and the balance between justice and reformation. Despite progressive legal frameworks, the implementation faces challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, lack of trained personnel, and societal stigma. As well as this paper examines the evolution, structure, and effectiveness of juvenile justice in India, highlighting the need for a more child-centric approach that prioritizes rehabilitation over retribution.

The Juvenile Justice System in India serves the largest population of two significant groups of at-risk children: those lacking family or familial support and those who are alleged to have committed offenses. The current primary framework for this system is the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, which was further revised in 2006. This Act integrates provisions pertaining to children from the Indian Constitution, UN guidelines, and principles of Child Rights. The Juvenile Justice Act categorizes children into two groups: a) “Child in Need of Care and Protection” and b) “Juvenile in Conflict with Law.” The legislation differentiates between these two groups of children and establishes distinct and independent processes to address their respective concerns.

KEYWORDS: Juvenile Justice System, Juvenile Justice Act, Children Rights, Indian Constitution, Children Care and Protection Act