INTERSECTION OF THE NDPS ACT AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT: A CRITICAL STUDY ON REHABILITATION MECHANISMS AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION OF JUVENILE DRUG OFFENDERS IN INDIA
AUTHOR – ATHUL S, LLM STUDENT AT CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION, TAMILNADU DR. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE IN LAW – CHENNAI
BEST CITATION – ATHUL S, INTERSECTION OF THE NDPS ACT AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT: A CRITICAL STUDY ON REHABILITATION MECHANISMS AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION OF JUVENILE DRUG OFFENDERS IN INDIA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (9) OF 2026, PG. 443-458, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
Abstract
This research paper critically examines the legal intersection between the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. While the NDPS Act employs a stringent, deterrent-based approach to drug offences, the JJ Act operates on a reformative, child-centric paradigm. This study explores the conflict arising when a juvenile is apprehended for drug trafficking, specifically analysing the tension between Section 37 of the NDPS Act (strict bail conditions) and Section 12 of the JJ Act (mandatory bail). It further scrutinizes the classification of commercial quantity drug offences as “heinous offences” for juveniles aged 16-18, the adequacy of statutory rehabilitation mechanisms, and the infrastructural gaps in de-addiction facilities. The paper concludes that while judicial interpretation has largely favoured the JJ Act, legislative inconsistencies and implementation failures continue to hinder the effective social reintegration of juvenile drug offenders.
Key Words: Juvenile Justice, NDPS Act, Child Rights and Protection Drug Offences, Bail and Heinous Offences, Rehabilitation and Reintegration