About the Juvenile Justice Act For UPSC (JJ ACT)
Discussing the Juvenile Justice Act For UPSC for mains.
The Act aims to consolidate and amend the law relating to juveniles in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection, by providing for proper care, protection and treatment by catering to their development needs.
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act
- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act was introduced and passed in Parliament in 2015 to replace the Juvenile Delinquency Law and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children Act) 2000.
- New Act was allowing the trial of juveniles in conflict with law in the age group of 16-18 years as adults.
- In cases where the crimes were to be determined.
- The nature of the crime and whether the juvenile should be tried as a minor or a child, was to be determined by a Juvenile Justice Board.
- Background : After the 2012 Delhi gangrape in which one of the accused was just short of 18 years, and was therefore tried as a juvenile.
- With regards to adoption
- Bringing a more universally acceptable adoption law
- It is instead of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act (1956) and Guardians of the ward Act (1890) which was for Muslims.
- Although the Act did not replace these laws.
- Act streamlined adoption procedures for orphans, abandoned and surrendered children.
- The existing Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has been given the status of a statutory body to enable it to perform its function more effectively.
- Serious crimes
- Included for the first time the category of serious crimes differentiating it from heinous crimes
- Juveniles charged with heinous crimes and who would be between the ages of 16-18 years would be tried as adult.
- Both heinous and serious crimes have also been clarified for the first time.
- District magistrates (DMs) along with additional district magistrates (ADMs) will monitor the functioning of various agencies under the JJ Act in every district.
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