Juvenile Justice Board ( JJB)

Recently, the Juvenile Justice Board ( JJB) cancelled the bail of accused minors and issued a notice to appear before it.

The Juvenile Justice Board (earlier Juvenile Court) was established after the enactment of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, of 2000.
Section 4 (1) of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 deals with the Juvenile Justice Board ( JJB).
It consists of a metropolitan magistrate or a judicial magistrate of the first class (with at least three years of experience), along with two social workers, one of whom is mandated to be a woman.
The State Government needs to constitute for every district, one or more JJBs to exercise the powers and discharge their functions relating to children in conflict with the law under the Juvenile Justice Act, of 2015.
The primary responsibility of setting up the JJBs vests with the State Governments/UT Administrations concerned.

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

– A child is defined under Section 2(12) of the Act as a person who has not completed eighteen years of age.

– The Act recognises two kinds of Children:

a. Child in Conflict with Law (who has committed some offence);

b. Child in Need of Care and Protection (who is a victim of crime or circumstances).

To deal with cases of juveniles in conflict with the law, ensuring their rights, protection, and rehabilitation.
To ensure that the child’s rights are protected throughout the process of apprehending the child, inquiry, aftercare and rehabilitation.
To ensure the availability of legal aid for the child through the legal services institutions.
The board conducts at least one inspection visit every month of residential facilities for children in conflict with the law and recommends action for improvement in the quality of services to the District Child Protection Unit and the state government.
Children in conflict with the law are facilitated in Observation Homes and Special Homes.