JAANVIFUL DHANJAL
“There can be no more intense discovery of the society spirit, then to know how they treat their
youngsters” – Nelson Mandela
The laws of a country describes that how the country deals with the citizens of its country. The
preamble of juvenile justice system says: the concerning act is coming in contact with all the children
that are coming in conflict with the law. It provides care protection to the children coming in conflict
with this system, children who are explicitly are engaged in criminal activities, or activities prohibited
by law. The word ‘juvenile’ is covered under S.2 (35) of juvenile justice care and protection act 2015
aged between 7-18 years.
The increasing number of cases of juvenile crimes in the last recent years and frightful incident
of “DELHI GANG RAPE CASE” has forced the law makers to come up with such kind of
system. Like the other countries, India had also made legal provisions that specifically deals with
the rights and protection of juvenile offenders which seeks to tackle the problem of juvenile
delinquency. The Juvenile Justice System in India is made on the basis of not getting tried in
courts, they should get a chance to reform and trial should be based upon social control agencies
The Juvenile Justice act of 2015 completed a need for a more effective justice system that
focused on reformative approaches. The approach towards Juveniles should be different from that
of adults, there were contentions made in the Parliament that the Juveniles should be given more
space for transformation or reformation or improvement and that is only possible when there’s a
special justice system. In Indian juvenile system, there is a clear distinction made regarding the
facets of offences, meaning thereby that categories were made terming the offences as heinous,
serious and petty. There have been specifications made regarding the Juveniles who are between
the age of 16-18, if any kind of crime is committed by them then after due perusal of their mental
capacity, they can be tried as an adult.
Introduction of Juvenile courts, meaning thereby that special courts were to be established that
will be trying the Juvenile offences only, like that of the courts dealing with POCSO, etc.
The aims to consolidate the laws relating to children alleged and found to be in conflict with law
and children in need of care and protection by catering and considering their basic needs through
proper care and protection, development, treatment, social- integration, by adopting a child
friendly approach in the adjudication and disposal of matters in the best interest of children. The
act also focuses on rehabilitation of juvenile offenders through various child care houses and
institutions.
Indian courts and the laws made by the judiciary have always looked forward for the best of the
country’s youth citizens and in case of juvenile, the juvenile courts have looked forward to each
and every aspect of the child’s growth and the perception he/she is going to take in the upcoming
future.