Juvenile Justice Act

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The Juvenile Justice Act 1986 is the primary legal framework for juvenile justice in India. The act provides for a special approach towards the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency and provides a framework for the protection, treatment and rehabilitation of children in the purview of the juvenile justice system. The law replaced the Children Act, 1960.

The first legislation on juvenile justice in India came in 1850 with the Apprentic Act which required that children between the ages of 10-18 convicted in courts to be provided vocational training as part of their rehabilitation process. This act was transplanted by the Reformatory Schools Act, 1897, the Indian Jail Committee and later the Children Act of 1960. The Juvenile Justice Bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha on 22 August 1986.

This act was amended in 2000 and is now known as the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act.