Indian Juvenile Justice System: Child Conflict with the Law

The unfortunate Nirbhaya incident occurred in 2012, which shocked the entire nation and called urgent need to amend the present law, where juveniles 16-18 years of age may be tried as an adult if they are charged with a heinous crime. This article starts with the evolution of norms and procedure as regards with juvenile justice. It further delves into the historical background starting from pre-independence era to post-independence era and to the current scenario. Further, it also shows that the increasing trend in the incidence of juvenile crime is a matter of concern. Then, it covers 3 models of juvenile justice system which are used across the world to deal with juveniles in conflict with law. Lastly, the article discusses about the adolescent brain development and further analyses the level of maturity, decision making and self control of juvenile. In the end, the article raises few important questions which the current laws need to address.