Context

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021, has been passed by both houses of Parliament.

About

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

• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 addresses the children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection.  
  • A juvenile is defined as a person less than 18 years of age.  
• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 states that adoption of a child is final on the issuance of an adoption order by the civil court. 
• Under the 2015 Act offences are categorized as:
  • heinous offences:with a minimum punishment of seven years of imprisonment
  • serious offences:three to seven years of imprisonment)
  • petty offences:below three years of imprisonment
• The Act provides that there will be no appeal for any order made by a Child Welfare Committee concluding that a person is not a child in need of care and protection.
• The Act provides for the constitution of one or more CWCs for each district to deal with children in need of care and protection.  It provides certain criteria for the appointment of the members to CWC.  
• An offence under the Act, which is punishable with imprisonment between three to seven years will be cognizable and non-bailable.  

What are the key amendments of the Act?

• The amendment authorizes the District Magistrate including Additional District Magistrate to issue adoption orders under Section 61 of the JJ Act. It is done to ensure speedy disposal of cases and to enhance accountability. The District Magistrates have also been empowered further to ensure implementation of the act.
• Under the amendment, eligibility parameters for the appointment of CWC members have been redefined. The criteria for the disqualification of CWC member has also been introduced.
• Some of the offences do not strictly fall under any of the categories.It has been decided that the offences where the maximum sentence is more than 7 years imprisonment but no minimum sentence has been prescribed or a minimum sentence of fewer than 7 years is provided, shall be treated as serious offences within this Act.