Government planning changes in juvenile justice act: Maneka

The government is planning special provisions in the current Juvenile Justice Act to address heinous offences committed by children above the age of 16 years, Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi told parliament Friday.

The move was aimed to act as a deterrent for child offenders committing such crimes and will also protect the rights of the victim, she said in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

The other revisions proposed in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 include bringing in more clarity in the role and procedures of statutory structures such as Child Welfare Committees and Juvenile Justice Boards and strengthening punitive measures for offences committed against children.

Some other provisions include new offences such as corporal punishment, ragging and using a child for vending, peddling, carrying, supplying or smuggling any intoxicating liquor, narcotic drug or psychotropic substance and streamlining and strengthening measures for adoption including providing statutory status to the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).

It also makes it mandatory for all child care institutions to register or pay a stringent penalty in case of non-compliance.

Maneka Gandhi said that the draft bill at this stage has been circulated for inter-ministerial consultation. After the approval of the cabinet, the bill is likely to be introduced in parliament.