STRIKING THE BALANCE: REHABILITATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN INDIA

AUTHORS – MRUTYUNJAY SARAMANDAL* & ASST. PROF. PRIYANSHI GUPTA**

* STUDENT AT UNITEDWORLD SCHOOL OF LAW, KARNAVATI UNIVERSITY. EMAIL: MRUTYUNJAYSARAMANDAL1007AL0049@KARNAVATIUNIVERSITY.EDU.IN

** ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LAW AT UNITEDWORLD SCHOOL OF LAW, KARNAVATI UNIVERSITY. EMAIL: PRIYANSHI@KARNAVATIUNIVERSITY.EDU.IN

BEST CITATION – MRUTYUNJAY SARAMANDAL & ASST. PROF. PRIYANSHI GUPTA, STRIKING THE BALANCE: REHABILITATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN INDIA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (5) OF 2025, PG. 867-883, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344

ABSTRACT

This paper critically examines the dual imperatives of rehabilitation and accountability within India’s Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Employing a mixed-methods approach, combining doctrinal analysis of statutes and case law with a qualitative review of academic literature, it investigates how international norms, developmental psychology, and classical criminology inform India’s juvenile justice framework. Key findings reveal that while rehabilitation remains the foundational principle underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Beijing Rules, accountability mechanisms have been strengthened for juveniles aged sixteen to eighteen who commit heinous offences. However, implementation gaps persist due to inadequate infrastructure, limited trained personnel, societal stigma, and weak aftercare programs. Comparative insights from Scandinavia, the United States, Germany, and Japan demonstrate the efficacy of restorative conferencing, diversion schemes, vocational training, and family‐centred models in reducing recidivism. The paper concludes by recommending a calibrated policy mix: enhancing institutional capacity, professional training in child psychology, robust aftercare services, and clear statutory guidelines for preliminary assessments of serious offences. A balanced framework, integrating proportionate accountability with individualized rehabilitation can redirect juvenile offenders toward law‐abiding lives while safeguarding public safety and upholding children’s rights.