With the advancement of industrialization and urbanization, juvenile delinquency is emerging as a major problem in all the developing countries of the world. Gang activities, purposeless offenses, acts of vandalism, joy riding and the like, are on the increase. Children are misled by a perverted system. Further, the growth of urbanization, congestion in city life, bad housing condition, uneven development of the family, death, desertion and divorce, poverty, slum and filth, all have contributed to an unhealthy development of childhood. It is but natural that delinquency would be the end result of such a social process. This paper discusses the various measures of the statutory provisions in this regard, including national and international rules and their effectiveness.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 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. This law, brought in compliance of child rights convention, repealed the earlier Juvenile Justice Act of 1986. This Act was further amended in 2006 and 2010. The Government of India is once again contemplating to bring further amendments and a review committee has been constituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development which is reviewing the existing legislation. The Juvenile Justice Act is considered to be an extremely progressive legislation and Model Rules 2007 have further added to the effectiveness of this welfare legislation.

However, the implementation is a very serious concern even in 2012, and the Supreme Court of India is constantly looking into the implementation of this law in the case of Sampurna Behura vs. Union of India. A separate petition titled Deepika Thusso vs. State of Jammu and Kashmir on the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act, 1995 which is applicable in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, is also pending for consideration before the Supreme Court.

Law Review Journal, Protection, Juvenile Crime, Juvenile Punishment, The Juvenile Justice.