New Juvenile Justice Act Comes Into Force Today

The New Juvenile Justice Act into force from Friday

The juvenile convict in the 16 December gangrape case. (Photo: Reuters/treated by The Quint)

The New Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act)comes into force on Friday. The Act will ensure juveniles between 16 and 18 years are tried in the adult court if he has committed a heinous crime. The Rajya Sabha had passed the Act during the last Winter Session.

The amendments to the Juvenile Justice Act Act 2000 were made after huge public outcry following the release of the fomer juvenile convict in Jyoti Singh’s (Nirbhaya) gangrape case after only three years of imprisonment. The new Act allows the Juvenile Justice Board to conduct a preliminary inquiry to find out whether the juvenile is indeed guilty of a heinous offence.

Legal experts however, feel that the new Act has several limitations and could be misused. So from today onward, if a juvenile between 16 and 18 years, commits a heinous offence, he should be prepared to face the adult court.

Read more on the Juvenile Justice Act here.

A copy of Ministry of Women and Child Development Gazette Notification on the New Juvenile Justice Act. (Photo: The Quint)

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