Vidhi Codex

Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act, 2015

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

Criminal2015112 sections10 chapters

The Juvenile Justice Act of 2015 regulates the care, protection, and rehabilitation of children under eighteen in India. It applies to vulnerable children who need care, such as orphans and abuse victims, as well as minors accused of crimes. The law establishes local boards and committees to resolve cases in a child-friendly, supportive manner. This legislation matters because it prioritizes a child’s best interests, emphasizing reform, foster care, and adoption over imprisonment. By treating minors as individuals capable of rehabilitation rather than adult criminals, it protects their rights, prevents exploitation, and helps them reintegrate into society as safe, productive citizens.

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Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent, commencement and application
  2. 2Definitions

Chapter II GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN →

  1. 3General principles to be followed in administration of Act

Chapter III JUVENILE JUSTICE BOARD →

  1. 4Juvenile Justice Board
  2. 5Placement of person, who cease to be a child during process of inquiry
  3. 6Placement of persons, who committed an offence, when person was below the age of eighteen years
  4. 7Procedure in relation to Board
  5. 8Powers, functions and responsibilities of the Board
  6. 9Procedure to be followed by a Magistrate who has not been empowered under this Act

Chapter IV PROCEDURE IN RELATION TO CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH LAW →

  1. 10Apprehension of child alleged to be in conflict with law
  2. 11Role of person in whose charge child in conflict with law is placed
  3. 12Bail to a person who is apparently a child alleged to be in conflict with law
  4. 13Information to parents, guardian or probation officer
  5. 14Inquiry by Board regarding child in conflict with law
  6. 15Preliminary assessment into heinous offences by Board
  7. 16Review of pendency of inquiry
  8. 17Orders regarding a child not found to be in conflict with law
  9. 18Orders regarding child found to be in conflict with law
  10. 19Powers of Children’s Court
  11. 20Child attained age of twenty-one years and yet to complete prescribed term of stay in place of safety
  12. 21Order that may not be passed against a child in conflict with law
  13. 22Proceeding under Chapter VIII of the Code of Criminal Procedure not to apply against child
  14. 23No joint proceedings of child in conflict with law and person not a child
  15. 24Removal of disqualification on the findings of an offence
  16. 25Special provision in respect of pending cases
  17. 26Provision with respect of run away child in conflict with law

Chapter V CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE →

  1. 27Child Welfare Committee
  2. 28Procedure in relation to Committee
  3. 29Powers of Committee
  4. 30Functions and responsibilities of Committee

Chapter VI PROCEDURE IN RELATION TO CHILDREN IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION →

  1. 31Production before Committee
  2. 32Mandatory reporting regarding a child found separated from guardian
  3. 33Offence of non-reporting
  4. 34Penalty for non-reporting
  5. 35Surrender of children
  6. 36Inquiry
  7. 37Orders passed regarding a child in need of care and protection
  8. 38Procedure for declaring a child legally free for adoption

Chapter VII REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL RE-INTEGRATION →

  1. 39Process of rehabilitation and social re-integration
  2. 40Restoration of child in need of care and protection
  3. 41Registration of child care institutions
  4. 42Penalty for non-registration of child care institutions
  5. 43Open shelter
  6. 44Foster care
  7. 45Sponsorship
  8. 46After care of children leaving child care institution
  9. 47Observation homes
  10. 48Special homes
  11. 49Place of safety
  12. 50Children’s Home
  13. 51Fit facility
  14. 52Fit person
  15. 53Rehabilitation and re-integration services in institutions registered under this Act and management thereof
  16. 54Inspection of institutions registered under this Act
  17. 55Evaluation of functioning of structures

Chapter VIII ADOPTION →

  1. 56Adoption
  2. 57Eligibility of prospective adoptive parents
  3. 58Procedure for adoption by Indian prospective adoptive parents living in India
  4. 59Procedure for inter-country adoption of an orphan or abandoned or surrendered child
  5. 60Procedure for inter-country relative adoption
  6. 61Procedure for disposal of adoption proceedings
  7. 62Additional procedural requirements and documentation
  8. 63Effect of adoption
  9. 64Reporting of adoption
  10. 65Specialised Adoption Agencies
  11. 66Adoption of children residing in institutions not registered as adoption agencies
  12. 67State Adoption Resource Agency
  13. 68Central Adoption Resource Authority
  14. 69Steering Committee of Authority
  15. 70Powers of Authority
  16. 71Annual Report of Authority
  17. 72Grants by Central Government
  18. 73Accounts and audit of Authority

Chapter IX OTHER OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN →

  1. 74Prohibition on disclosure of identity of children
  2. 75Punishment for cruelty to child
  3. 76Employment of child for begging
  4. 77Penalty for giving intoxicating liquor or narcotic drug or psychotropic substance to a child
  5. 78Using a child for vending, peddling, carrying, supplying or smuggling any intoxicating liquor, narcotic drug or psychotropic substance
  6. 79Exploitation of a child employee
  7. 80Punitive measures for adoption without following prescribed procedures
  8. 81Sale and procurement of children for any purpose
  9. 82Corporal punishment
  10. 83Use of child by militant groups or other adults
  11. 84Kidnapping and abduction of child
  12. 85Offences committed on disabled children
  13. 86Classification of offences and designated court
  14. 87Abetment
  15. 88Alternative punishment
  16. 89Offence committed by child under this Chapter

Chapter X MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 90Attendance of parent or guardian of child
  2. 91Dispensing with attendance of child
  3. 92Placement of a child suffering from disease requiring prolonged medical treatment in an approved place
  4. 93Transfer of a child who is mentally ill or addicted to alcohol or other drugs
  5. 94Presumption and determination of age
  6. 95Transfer of a child to place of residence
  7. 96Transfer of child between Children’s Homes, or special homes or fit facility or fit person in different parts of India
  8. 97Release of a child from an institution
  9. 98Leave of absence to a child placed in an institution
  10. 99Reports to be treated as confidential
  11. 100Protection of action taken in good faith
  12. 101Appeals
  13. 102Revision
  14. 103Procedure in inquiries, appeals and revision proceedings
  15. 104Power of the Committee or the Board to amend its own orders
  16. 105Juvenile justice fund
  17. 106State Child Protection Society and District Child Protection Unit
  18. 107Child Welfare Police Officer and Special Juvenile Police Unit
  19. 108Public awareness on provisions of Act
  20. 109Monitoring of implementation of Act
  21. 110Power to make rules
  22. 111Repeal and savings
  23. 112Power to remove difficulties