The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development
Act details
| Short title | The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to children alleged and found to be in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection by catering to their basic needs through proper care, protection, development, treatment, social re-integration, by adopting a child-friendly approach in the adjudication and disposal of matters in the best interest of children and for their rehabilitation through processes provided, and institutions and bodies established, herein under and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. |
| Act number | 2 of 2016 |
| Act year | 2016 |
| Enactment date | 31 Dec 2015 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Women and Child Development |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 112 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 28 Oct 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
Short Title The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
Act Number / Year Act No. 2 of 2016
India Code Act ID 201602
Presidential Assent Date December 31, 2015
Enforcement Date January 15, 2016
Nodal Ministry Ministry of Women and Child Development
Precedent & Statutory Rationale
1. Public Outcry and Response to Heinous Crimes:
o Prior to 2015, the juvenile justice system treated all individuals under 18 uniformly as juveniles, regardless of the severity of the offense. Following intense public debate and national outrage catalyzed by the 2012 Delhi gang rape case—where one of the primary convicts was just months short of 18 and received the maximum reformatory term under the 2000 Act—the legislature recognized an urgent need to address rising violent crimes involving older adolescents.
2. Balancing Restorative Justice with Deterrence:
o Grounded in child rights and constitutional obligations under Articles 15(3), 39(e), 39(f), and 47, the legislation sought to overhaul the framework by introducing a differential justice system that separates reformative rehabilitation for younger children from criminal culpability and adult trial mechanisms for minors aged 16 to 18 involved in heinous crimes.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
• Formulation: Developed and piloted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, spearheaded by then-Minister Maneka Gandhi.
• Parliamentary Passage: Introduced in the Lok Sabha in August 2014, subjected to extensive parliamentary scrutiny, passed by the Lok Sabha on May 7, 2015, and subsequently passed by the Rajya Sabha on December 22, 2015.
• Presidential Assent: Received formal Presidential Assent on December 31, 2015, entering the statute book as Act No. 2 of 2016.
• Enforcement: Brought into active operational force on January 15, 2016
• Source: India Code and Ministry of Women and Child Development Official Records