Administration of Juvenile Justice: A Case Study

The gang rape of a young woman in Delhi on 16 December 2012 has generated a nationwide debate on a number of issues, including heinous offences committed by minors acting like an adult, and as a result, the new law on juvenile delinquent has been reframed in the form of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. A major overhaul of treatment of juvenile delinquents brought by the law is that all juveniles in the age group of 16-18 years be dealt with by the adult criminal justice system. In this paper the author examines a recent case decided by the Supreme Court of India related to a child in conflict with law, who was below 18 years, found to have been lodged in regular jail, despite the law provides otherwise, because he was alleged to have involved in a heinous offence. It argues that there is need for organizing periodic refresher course on administration of juvenile justice in judicial academies operating in the country.