The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 has come into force on January 1, 2016 after the President of India gave his assent to the bill on December 31, 2015.
The 2015 Act repeals and replaces the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. It provides to treat juveniles aged between 16 and 18 as adults if they are charged for commission of heinous crimes, a new legal position which has been criticised by the child rights activists.
The objects and reasons of the new Act states:
AND WHEREAS, it is expedient to re-enact the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 to make comprehensive provisions for children alleged and found to be in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection, taking into consideration the standards prescribed in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice, 1985 (the Beijing Rules), the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty (1990), he Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (1993), and other related international instruments.
