Indiabulez at 08:42, 26 March 2026

2026-03-26T08:42:00Z

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{{Short description|Quasi-judicial body in India}}
'''Juvenile Justice Boards''' are Indian [[Quasi-judicial body|quasi-judicial bodies]] that decide whether juveniles accused of a crime should be tried as an adult.<ref name="jj5">{{cite news |last1=Ganotra |first1=Komal |date=17 February 2016 |title=With no systems in place, we are taking away our children's right to justice |publisher=Scroll.in |url=https://scroll.in/article/802693/with-no-systems-in-place-we-are-taking-away-our-childrens-right-to-justice |access-date=18 October 2022}}</ref><ref name="jj8">{{cite news |date=18 July 2022 |title=Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) - JournalsOfIndia |publisher=journalsofindia.com |url=https://journalsofindia.com/juvenile-justice-boards-jjbs/ |access-date=19 October 2022}}</ref>

== History ==

Juvenile Justice Boards were formed by State Governments<ref name="jj7">{{cite news |title=SC directs states to clear pendency in Juvenile Justice Boards: Another SLIC achievement towards ensuring child rights — SLIC |url=http://www.slic.org.in/litigation/sc-direct-states-to-clear-pendency-in-juvenile-justice-boards-another-hrln-achievement-towards-ensuring-child-rights |access-date=18 October 2022 |publisher=slic.org.in |date=24 July 2015 |language=en}}</ref> under the [[Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015]].<ref name="jj1">{{cite news |last1=More |first1=Hemant |title=Juvenile Justice Board: Its constitution, powers, jurisdiction, and functions |url=https://thefactfactor.com/facts/law/legal_concepts/criminology/juvenile-justice-board/12087/ |access-date=18 October 2022 |publisher=The Fact Factor |date=22 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="jj2">{{cite news |date=4 October 2022 |title=44 per cent apprehended juveniles out of 1,026 were acquitted in the last seven years: RTI reply |language=en |publisher=The Indian Express |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/44-per-cent-apprehended-juveniles-acquitted-last-seven-years-rti-8188477/ |access-date=18 October 2022}}</ref>

== Members of the board and eligibility ==

Each Juvenile Justice Board consists of one first-class judicial magistrate and two social workers at least one of whom is a woman.<ref name="jj6">{{cite news |title=Juvenile Justice System of India- Jurisdiction of Courts and beyond |url=https://www.lawinsider.in/columns/juvenile-justice-system-of-india-jurisdiction-of-courts-and-beyond |access-date=18 October 2022 |publisher=Law Insider India |date=13 February 2022}}</ref> They are paid an honorarium. Terms last two years for those of ages 35–65.<ref name="jj3">{{cite news |title=Applications invited for posts of Juvenile Justice Board members |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/applications-invited-for-posts-of-juvenile-justice-board-members/article37348030.ece |access-date=18 October 2022 |publisher=The Hindu |date=5 November 2021 |language=en-IN}}</ref> To qualify as a board member, the applicant should have been engaged for seven years in the areas of health, education or other child welfare activities or should be a qualified professional with a degree from an accredited Institute and practicing in Law, Sociology, Psychology, or Psychiatry relating to children.<ref name="jj4">{{cite news |title=Applications invited for Juvenile Justice Board member posts |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/applications-invited-for-juvenile-justice-board-member-posts/article7002037.ece |access-date=18 October 2022 |publisher=The Hindu |date=16 March 2015 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

== Functions ==

Juvenile Justice Boards have the following functions:<ref name="jj10">{{cite news |title=Juvenile Justice Board - Indian Law Portal |url=https://indianlawportal.co.in/juvenile-justice-board/ |access-date=19 October 2022 |publisher=indianlawportal. |date=22 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

* To be informed of the details on the presence of children and their parents/guardians during the proceedings before the board.
* Ensure protection of children's rights during the course of legal proceedings.
* Provide a translator or interpreter if he/she is unable to understand the language used in legal proceedings.
* Ensure that proceedings are followed in accordance with section 14 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
* Any other functions assigned to the board as per the Juvenile Justice Act.

== Pre-requisites for consideration as a minor ==

The Juvenile Justice Board considers the following circumstances before declaring any juvenile as minor:<ref name="jj12">{{cite news |title=Explained: How should JJBs decide on whether to try a child of 16 years as an 'adult'? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/juvenile-justice-trial-explained-child-adult-8033429/ |access-date=19 October 2022 |publisher=The Indian Express |date=16 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="jj9">{{cite news |title=Why preliminary assessment is against the idea of juvenile justice |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/developing-contemporary-india/why-preliminary-assessment-is-against-the-idea-of-juvenile-justice/ |access-date=19 October 2022 |publisher=Times of India Blog |date=7 October 2022}}</ref>

* Physical ability of the juvenile to commit alleged crime.
* Mental ability of the juvenile.
* Potential of the juvenile to analyse and understand crime consequences.
* Circumstances leading to the commitment of alleged offence.

Juveniles classified as adults may face serious punishments such as life imprisonment that are applicable for adult criminals.

== Appeals ==
Appeals against the Board's order can be made to the [[Children's court|Children's Court]]. Subsequently, orders of the Children's court can be appealed in the High Court.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JJ Act Section 101 |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?abv=CEN&statehandle=123456789/1362&actid=AC_CEN_13_14_000010_201602_1517807328168&sectionId=12821&sectionno=101&orderno=101&orgactid=AC_CEN_13_14_000010_201602_1517807328168}}</ref>

== Controversies and Criticism ==
The Juvenile Justice Board has faced criticism in the trial of the [[2012 Delhi gang rape and murder]]. The juvenile defendant Mohammed Afroz was not allowed to be trial as adult, with the JJB rejecting the plea of [[Delhi Police]] to conduct a bone ossification test.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Subramanian-Swamy-s-plea-for-trying-juvenile-as-adult-accused-dismissed/Article1-999187.aspx |title=Subramanian Swamy's plea for trying juvenile as adult accused dismissed |work=Hindustan Times |date=24 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126212008/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Subramanian-Swamy-s-plea-for-trying-juvenile-as-adult-accused-dismissed/Article1-999187.aspx |archive-date=26 January 2013 }}</ref> Despite being labeled as the most brutal in the crime, he was subsequently sentenced to 3 years in a Juvenile Reform Facility, which earned criticism from activists and lawyers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Chunk-HT-UI-IndiaSectionPage-DelhiGangrape/Delhi-gangrape-sixth-accused-declared-a-minor-by-board/Article1-1002908.aspx |title=Most brutal rapist declared minor, victim's kin outraged |work=Hindustan Times |date=28 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128234008/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Chunk-HT-UI-IndiaSectionPage-DelhiGangrape/Delhi-gangrape-sixth-accused-declared-a-minor-by-board/Article1-1002908.aspx |archive-date=28 January 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nirbhaya gang-rape case: Juvenile found guilty of rape and murder|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Nirbhaya-gang-rape-case-Juvenile-found-guilty-of-rape-and-murder/articleshow/22183253.cms|access-date=31 August 2013|newspaper=The Times of India|date=31 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831170638/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Nirbhaya-gang-rape-case-Juvenile-found-guilty-of-rape-and-murder/articleshow/22183253.cms|archive-date=31 August 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> He was released in December 2015 after his term finished, and protests took place at the time of his release. Afroz's family ostracized him in the aftermath of his crime. Following his release, Afroz has been reported to be working as a cook somewhere in South India, while his identity through his photograph remains hidden for his safety.<ref>{{cite news |author=S. W. Staff |title=Nirbhaya's 'Juvenile' Rapist Who Walked Free Last Year Is Reportedly Working As A Cook |url=https://www.scoopwhoop.com/meanwhile-heres-how-the-juvenile-rapist-of-nirbhaya-is-spending-his-life/ |access-date=11 June 2019 |work=ScoopWhoop |date=5 May 2017 |language=en |archive-date=19 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519105859/https://www.scoopwhoop.com/meanwhile-heres-how-the-juvenile-rapist-of-nirbhaya-is-spending-his-life/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the arrest of the minor accused Vedant Agarwal in the [[2024 Pune car crash|2024 Pune Porsche hit-and-run case]], which led to the death of 2 software engineers in [[Kalyani Nagar]], [[Pune]] he was granted bail by the JJB and asked to write a 300 word essay. The decision sparked nation-wide outrage and public outcry from political leaders and the general public.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gautam |first=Aditi |date=22 May 2024 |title=Explained: Charges Against Pune Builder, Son Who Ran Over 2 With Porsche |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pune-porsche-crash-pune-crash-explained-charges-against-pune-builder-son-who-ran-over-2-with-porsche-5719485 |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> Following the protests against the order, the bail was canceled and Agarwal was remanded back into custody of an observation home. [[Pune Police]] officials later moved to the [[Bombay High Court]] to try Agarwal as an adult.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-20 |title=Pune Porsche deaths: Police move higher court for trying accused minor as adult{{!}} Top updates |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pune-porsche-deaths-police-move-higher-court-for-trying-accused-minor-as-adult-top-updates-101716219198206.html |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> Subsequently, Agarwal was later granted bail by the [[Mumbai High Court]] and was remanded into the care of his maternal aunt, which further sparked outrage.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bose |first1=Mrityunjay |title=Pune Car Crash: Bombay High Court orders release of minor boy |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/pune-car-crash-bombay-high-court-orders-release-of-minor-boy-3079974 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> On 15 July 2025, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) dismissed the Pune police's request to prosecute the minor involved in the fatal Porsche accident as an adult.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-porsche-case-accused-juvenile-justice-board-police-plea-rejected-10127555/|title=Porsche case | JJB rejects plea to try minor as adult; in Pune, not one minor involved in heinous crime tried as adult, say lawyers|date=15 July 2025}}</ref>

Between February and March 2026, the Juvenile Justice Board faced widespread condemnation in cases where minors involved in underage driving and hit-and-run, which led to death of civilians on two-wheelers, were granted bail on frivolous grounds - in a case in Delhi, the 17-year old minor was granted interim bail for giving class 10 exams.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sahil-dhaneshra-accident-accused-minor-in-dwarka-crash-gets-bail-jjb-flags-lack-of-parental-supervision-101773194996072.html|title= Sahil Dhaneshra accident: Accused minor in Dwarka crash gets bail, JJB flags lack of parental supervision}}</ref> In another case that took place in a suburb of Mumbai, the minor, who was also 17 years old, was granted bail, which sparked protests among the victim's family.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/ghatkopar-grief-turns-to-anger-hundreds-march-seeking-justice-for-dhrumil-patel-killed-in-suv-accident-involving-minor-driver|title= Ghatkopar Grief Turns To Anger: Hundreds March Seeking Justice For Dhrumil Patel Killed In SUV Accident Involving Minor Driver}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Juvenile court|Juvenile Court]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Juvenile courts]]
[[Category:Quasi-judicial bodies of India]]

Juvenile Justice Board - Revision history

Indiabulez at 08:42, 26 March 2026