The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, aims to amend and consolidate the law relating to children ‘alleged and found to be in conflict with law’, as well as children in need of care and protection. It lays down provisions for a ‘child-friendly’ approach in the adjudication and disposal of matters in the best interest of children. It also provides for establishing processes, institutions and bodies for the rehabilitation and social re-integration of children.The Act – which Parliament passed on December 31, 2015 – came into effect on January 15, 2016. Further, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, government of India, issued the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules on September 21, 2016. The provisions of the 10-chapter Act are guided by ‘general principles of care and protection of children’ which are detailed in Chapter II.