The bill was passed despite reservation by the standing committee, which was overruled by the government.
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill passed by the Lok Sabha on Thursday allows for juveniles between the ages of 16 to 18 years to be tried in adult courts if they are found to commit any heinous crimes. The bill was passed despite reservation by the standing committee, which was overruled by the government.
Here are some of the notable changes made to the Act-
- Any child that found committing any crime will now be send for a preliminary assessment for a period of three months, up from the earlier one month
- A clarification is added that the preliminary assessment is not a trial, but to assess the child’s capacity to commit the crime
- A new clause on fair trial is added, under which the assessment will look into the special needs of the child, under the tenet of fair trial under a child-friendly atmosphere.
- The child will not suffer from any disqualification that arises from any conviction under the Act.
- The records of any conviction will be destroyed after the expiry period of appeal, except in the case of heinous crimes.
- Biological parents giving up children for adoption, will be given three months to rethink their decision, instead of the existing one month.
- The aftercare of the child in institutional care will not be restricted to only one time.
- Any child leaving institutional care can now receive financial support more than one time.
- Disabled children will be given precedence in inter-state adoption.
- Abandoned children, found by the childcare facilities, will be kept for 60 days before being given up for adoption or foster care, instead of the existing 30 days.
- Any child who has been abandoned by biological parents due to unavoidable circumstances will not be considered to be wilfully giving up the child.
- In acting on an appeal against an order passed against the child, the board will now take help of experienced psychologists and medical specialists.
- The will now be proper training of special juvenile units in the police force.
- NCPCR and SCPCR will be the nodal authorities to be responsible for monitoring implementation, the publicity of the amended act, and to look into cases that arise out of the Act.
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