The Juvenile Justice System In India

India’s juvenile justice system is grounded in the principle that children and adolescents, due to their age and vulnerability, require specialized treatment distinct from adult offenders. This article examines the legislative journey from the Juvenile Justice Act of 1986 to the current Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, shaped by international standards and landmark cases. Central features discussed include categorization of juveniles, the functioning of Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committees, and the emphasis on child-friendly adjudication, rehabilitation, and restorative justice. Significant Supreme Court judgments are analyzed, illustrating the evolution of the legal framework, protections for juveniles, and procedural clarifications regarding age determination and claims of juvenility. The article also addresses ongoing challenges in implementation—such as documentary gaps, infrastructure, and rehabilitation programs—while highlighting recent judicial activism and reforms. Ultimately, it argues that India’s juvenile justice system, although confronted by systemic complexities, upholds reformative justice, striving to balance compassion with protection of young citizens’ rights.