4. Juvenile Justice Board.- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,
constitute for a district or a group of districts specified in the notification, one or more Juvenile
Justice Boards for exercising the powers and discharging the duties conferred or imposed on
such Boards in relation to juveniles in conflict with law under this act.
(2) A Board shall consist of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class, as
the case may be, and two social workers of whom at least one shall be a woman, forming a
Bench and every such Bench shall have the powers conferred by the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), on a Metropolitan Magistrate or, as the case may be, a Judicial
Magistrate of the first class and the Magistrate on the Board shall be designated as the principal
Magistrate.
(3) No Magistrate shall be appointed as a member of the Board unless he has special knowledge
or training in child psychology or child welfare and no social worker shall be appointed as a
member of the Board unless he has been actively involved in health, education, or welfare
activities pertaining to children for at least seven years.
(4) The term of office of the members of the Board and the manner in which such member may
resign shall be such as may be prescribed.
(5) The appointment of any member of the Board may be terminated after holding inquiry, by the
State Government, if -
i. he has been found guilty of misuse of power vested under this act,
ii. he has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude, and such conviction has not
been reversed or he has not been granted full pardon in respect of such offence,
iii. he fails to attend the proceedings of the Board foe consecutive three months without any valid
reason or he fails to attend less than three-fourth of the sittings in a year.
5. Procedure, etc. in relation to Board.- (1) The Board shall meet at such times and shall, observe
such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings, as may be
prescribed.
(2) A child in conflict with law may be produced before an individual member of the Board, when
the Board is not sitting.
(3) A Board may act notwithstanding the absence of any member of the Board, and no order
made by the Board shall be invalid by reason only of the absence of any member during any
stage of proceedings:
Provided that there shall be at least two members including the principal Magistrate present at the
time of final disposal of the case.
(4) In the event of any difference of opinion among the members of the Board in the interim or
final disposition, the opinion of the majority shall prevail, but where there is no such majority, the
opinion of the principal Magistrate, shall prevail.
6. Powers of Juvenile Justice Board.- (1) Where a Board has been constituted for any district or a
group of districts, such Board shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the
time being in force but save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, have power to deal
exclusively with all proceedings under this Act, relating to juvenile in conflict with law.
(2) The powers conferred on the Board by or under this Act may also be exercised by the High
Court and the Court of Session, when the proceedings comes before them in appeal, revision or
otherwise.
7. Procedure to be followed by a Magistrate not empowered under the Act.- (1) When any
Magistrate not empowered to exercise the powers of a Board under this Act is of the opinion that
a person brought before him under any of the provisions of this Act (other than for the purpose of
giving evidence), is a juvenile or the child, he shall without any delay record such opinion and
forward the juvenile or the child, and the record of the proceeding to the competent authority
having jurisdiction over the proceeding.
(2) The competent authority to which the proceeding is forwarded under sub-section (1) shall hold
the inquiry as if the juvenile or the child had originally been brought before it.
8. Observation homes.- (1) Any State Government may establish and maintain either by itself or
under an agreement with voluntary organisations, observation homes in every district or a group
of districts, as may be required for the temporary reception of any juvenile in conflict with law
during the pendency of any inquiry regarding them under this Act.
(2) Where the State Government is of opinion that any institution other than a home established
or maintained under sub-section (1), is fit for the temporary reception of juvenile in conflict with
law during the pendency of any inquiry regarding them under this Act, it may certify such
substitution as an observation home for purposes of this Act.
(3) The State Government may, by rules made under this Act, provide for the management of
observation homes, including the standards and various types of services to be provided by them
for rehabilitation and social integration of a juvenile, and the circumstances under which, and the
manner in which, the certification of an observation home may be granted or withdrawn.
(4) Every juvenile who is not placed under the charge of parent or guardian and is sent to an
observation home shall be initially kept in a reception unit of the observation home for preliminary
inquiries, care and classification for juveniles according to his age group, such as seven to twelve
years, twelve to sixteen years and sixteen to eighteen years, giving due considerations to
physical and mental status and degree of the offence committed, for further induction into
observation home.
9. Special Homes.- (1) Any State Government may establish and maintain either by itself or under
an agreement with voluntary organisations, special homes in every district or a group of districts,
as may be required for reception and rehabilitation of juvenile in conflict with law under this Act.
(2) Where the State Government is of opinion that any institution other than a home established
or maintained under sub-section (1), is fit for the reception of juvenile in conflict with law to be
sent there under this Act, it may certify such institution as a special home for the purposes of this
Act.
(3) The State Government may, by rules made under this Act, provide for the management of
special homes, including the standards and various types of services to be provided by them
which are necessary for re-socialisation of a juvenile, and the circumstances under which and the
manner in which, the certification of a special home may be granted or withdrawn.
(4) The rules made under sub-section (3) may also provide for the classification and separation of
juvenile in conflict with law on the basis of age and the nature of offences committed by them and
his mental and physical status.
10. Apprehension of juvenile in conflict with law.- (1) As soon as a juvenile in conflict with law is
apprehended by police, he shall be placed under the charge of the special juvenile police unit or
the designated police officer who shall immediately report the matter to a member of the Board.
(2) The State Government may make rules consistent with this Act,-
i. to provide for persons through whom ( including registered voluntary organisations) any juvenile
in conflict with law may be produced before the Board;
ii. to provide the manner in which such juvenile may be sent to an observation home.
11. Control of custodian over juvenile .- Any person in whose charge a juvenile is placed in
pursuance of this Act shall, while the order is in force have the control over the juvenile as he
would have if he were his parents, and shall be responsible for his maintenance, and the juvenile
shall continue in his charge for the period stated by competent authority, notwithstanding that he
is claimed by his parents or any other person.
12. Bail of juvenile.- (1) When any person accused of a bailable or non-bailable offence, and
apparently a juvenile, is arrested or detained or appears or is brought before a Board, such
person shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of
1974) or in any other law for the time being in force, be released on bail with or without surety but
he shall not be so released if there appear reasonable grounds for believing that the release is
likely to bring him into association with any known criminal or expose him to moral, physical or
psychological danger or that his release would defeat the ends of justice.
(2) When such person having been arrested is not released on bail under sub-section (1) by the
officer incharge of the police station, such officer shall cause him to be kept only in an
observation home in the prescribed manner until he can brought before a Board.
(3) When such person is not released on bail under sub-section (1) by the Board it shall, instead
of committing him to prison, make an order sending him to an observation home or a place of
safety for such period during the pendency of the inquiry regarding him as may be specified in the
order.
13. Information to parent, guardian or probation officer.- Where a juvenile is arrested, the officer
incharge of the police station or the special juvenile police unit to which the juvenile is brought
shall, as soon as may be after the arrest, inform-
(a) the parent or guardian of the juvenile , if he can be found, of such arrest and direct him to be
present at the Board before which the juvenile will appear; and
(b) the probation officer of such arrest to enable him to obtain information regarding the
antecedents and family background of the juvenile and other material circumstances likely to be
of assistance to the Board for making the inquiry.
14. Inquiry by Board regarding juvenile.- Where a juvenile having been charged with the offence
is produced before a Board, the Board shall hold the inquiry in accordance with the provisions of
this Act and may make such order in relation to the juvenile as it deems fit:
Provided that an inquiry under this section shall be completed within a period of four months from
the date of its commencement, unless the period is extended by the Board having regard to the
circumstances of the case and in special cases after recording the reasons in writing for such
extension.
15. Order that may be passed regarding juvenile.- (1) Where a Board is satisfied on inquiry that a
juvenile has committed an offence, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any
other law for the time being in force, the Board may, if it thinks so fit,-
(a) allow the juvenile to go home after advice or admonition following appropriate inquiry against
and counselling to the parent or the guardian and the juvenile;
(b) direct the juvenile to participate in group counselling and similar activities;
(c) order the juvenile to perform community service;
(d) order the parent of the juvenile or the juvenile himself to pay a fine, if he is over fourteen years
of age and earns money;
(e) direct the juvenile to be released on probation of good conduct and placed under the care of
any parent, guardian or other fit person, on such parent, guardian or other fit person executing a
bond, with or without surety, as the Board may require, for the good behaviour and well-being of
the juvenile for any period not exceeding three years;
(f) direct the juvenile to be released on probation of good conduct and placed under the care of
any fit institution for the good behaviour and well-being of the juvenile for any period not
exceeding three years;
(g) make an order directing the juvenile to be sent to a special home,-
i. in the case of juvenile, over seventeen years but less than eighteen years of age for a period of
not less than two years;
ii. in case of any other juvenile for the period until he ceases to be a juvenile :
Provided that the Board may, if it is satisfied that having regard to the nature of the offence and
the circumstances of the case it is expedient so to do, for reasons to be recorded, reduce the
period of stay to such period as it thinks fit.
2. The Board shall obtain the social investigation report on juvenile either through a probation
officer or a recognised voluntary organisation or otherwise, and shall take into consideration the
findings of such report before passing an order.
3. Where an order under clause (d), clause (e) or clause (f) of sub-section (1) is made, the Board
may, if it is of opinion that in the interests of the juvenile and of the public, it is expedient so to do,
in addition make an order that the juvenile in conflict with law shall remain under the supervision
of a probation officer named in the order during such period, not exceeding three years as may
be specified therein, and may in such supervision order impose such conditions as it deems
necessary for the due supervision of the juvenile in conflict with law :
Provided that if at any time afterwards it appears to the Board on receiving a report from the
probation officer or otherwise, that the juvenile in conflict with law has not been of good behaviour
during the period of supervision or that the fit institution under whose care the juvenile was placed
is no longer able or willing to ensure the good behaviour and well-being of the juvenile it may,
after making such inquiry as it deems fit, order the juvenile in conflict with law to be sent to a
special home.
4. The Board shall while making a supervision order under sub-section (3), explain to the juvenile
and the parent, guardian or other fit person or fit institution, as the case may be, under whose
care the juvenile has been placed, the terms and conditions of the order shall forthwith furnish
one copy of the supervision order to the juvenile, the parent, guardian or other fit person or fit
institution, as the case may be, the sureties, if any, and the probation officer.
16. Order that may not be passed against juvenile.-(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in any other law for the time being in force, no juvenile in conflict with law shall be
sentenced to death or life imprisonment, or committed to prison in default of payment of fine or in
default of furnishing security :
Provided that where a juvenile who has attained the age of sixteen years has committed an
offence and the Board is satisfied that the offence committed is of so serious in nature or that his
conduct and behaviour have been such that it would not be in his interest or in the interest of
other juvenile in a special home to send him to such special home and that none of the other
measures provided under this Act is suitable or sufficient, the Board may order the juvenile in
conflict with law to be kept in such place of safety and in such manner as it thinks fit and shall
report the case for the order of the State Government.
(2) On receipt of a report from a Board under sub-section (1), the State Government may make
such arrangement in respect of the juvenile as it deems proper and may order such juvenile to be
kept under protective custody at such place and on such conditions as it thinks fit :
Provided that the period of detention so ordered shall not exceed the maximum period of
imprisonment to which the juvenile could have been sentenced for the offence committed.
17. Proceeding under Chapter VIII of the Code of Criminal Procedure not component against
juvenile.- Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure,
1973 (2 of 1974) no proceeding shall be instituted and no order shall be passed against the
juvenile under Chapter VIII of the said Code.
18. No joint proceeding of juvenile and person not a juvenile.-(1) Notwithstanding anything
contained in section 223 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) or in any other law
for the time being in force, no juvenile shall be charged with or tried for any offence together with
a person who is not a juvenile.
(2) If a juvenile is accused of an offence for which under section 223 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) or any other law for the time being in force, such juvenile and any
person who is not a juvenile would, but for the prohibition contained in sub-section (1), have been
charged and tried together, the Board taking cognizance of that offence shall direct separate trials
of the juvenile and the other person.
19. Removal of disqualification attaching to conviction.-(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in
any other law, a juvenile who has committed an offence and has been dealt with under the
provisions of this Act shall not suffer disqualification, if any, attaching to a conviction of an offence
under such law.
(2) The Board shall make an order directing that the relevant records of such conviction shall be
removed after the expiry of the period of appeal or a reasonable period as prescribed under the
rules, as the case may be.
20. Special provision in respect of pending cases.- Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Act, all proceedings in respect of a juvenile pending in any court in any area on the date on which
this Act comes into force in that area, shall be continued in that court as if this Act had not been
passed and if the court finds that the juvenile has committed an offence, it shall record such
finding and instead of passing any sentence in respect of the juvenile, forward the juvenile to the
Board which shall pass orders in respect of that juvenile in accordance with the provisions of this
Act as if it had been satisfied on inquiry under this Act that a juvenile has committed the offence.
21. Prohibition of publication of name, etc., of juvenile involved in any proceeding under the Act.-
(1) No report in any newspaper, magazine, news-sheet or visual media of any inquiry regarding a
juvenile in conflict with law under this Act shall disclose the name, address or school or any other
particulars calculated to lead to the identification of the juvenile nor shall any picture of any such
juvenile be published :
Provided that for reasons to be recorded in writing the authority holding the inquiry may permit
such disclosure, if in its opinion such disclosure is in interest of the juvenile.
(2) Any person contravening the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be punishable with fine, which
may extend to one thousand rupees.
22. Provision in respect of escaped juvenile.- Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
in any other law for the time being in force, any police officer may take charge without warrant of
a juvenile in conflict with law who has escaped from a special home or an observation home or
from the care of a person under whom he was placed under this Act, and shall be sent back to
the special home or the observation home or that person, as the case may be; and no proceeding
shall be instituted in respect of the juvenile by reason of such escape, but the special home, or
the observation home or the person may, after giving the information to the Board which passed
the order in respect of the juvenile, take such steps in respect of the juvenile as may be deemed
necessary under the provisions of this Act.
23. Punishment for cruelty to juvenile or child.- Whoever, having the actual charge of, or control
over, a juvenile or the child, assaults, abandons, exposes or wilfully neglects the juvenile or
causes or procures him to be assaulted, abandoned, exposed or neglected in a manner likely to
cause such juvenile or the child unnecessary mental or physical suffering shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a team which may extend to six months, or fine, or with both.
24. Employment of juvenile or child for begging.-(1) Whoever employs or uses any juvenile or the
child for the purpose or causes any juvenile to beg shall be punishable with imprisonment for a
term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.
(2) Whoever, having the actual charge of, or control over, a juvenile or the child abets the
commission of the offence punishable under sub-section (1), shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and shall also be liable to fine.
25. Penalty for giving intoxicating liquor or narcotic drug or psychotropic substance to juvenile or
child.- Whoever gives, or causes to be given, to any juvenile or the child any intoxicating liquor in
a public place or any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance except upon the order of duly
qualified medical practitioner or in case of sickness shall be punishable with imprisonment for a
term which may extend to three years and shall be liable to fine.
26. Exploitation of juvenile or child employee.- Whoever ostensibly procures a juvenile or the child
for the purpose of any hazardous employment keeps him in bondage and withholds his earnings
or uses such earning for his own purposes shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term
which may extend to three years and shall be liable to fine.
27. Special offences.- The offences punishable under sections 23, 24, 25 and 26 shall be
cognizable.
28. Alternative punishment.- Where an act or omission constitute an offence punishable under
this Act and also under any other Central or State Act, then, notwithstanding anything contained
in any law for the time being in force, the offender found guilty of such offences shall be liable to
punishment only under such Act as provides for punishment which is greater in degree.