Q. With reference to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, consider the following statements:
1.As per the Act, adolescents aged 16 and above are exempted from trying as adults even if they are accused of committing a heinous offence.
2.The Act emphasizes holding adolescent offenders accountable while prioritizing rehabilitation.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Answer: B
Notes:
Explanation –
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act allows for trying adolescents aged 16 and above as adults if they are accused of committing a “heinous” offence, which is defined as an offence with a minimum punishment of seven years or more. Even when juveniles are tried as adults, there are provisions for their care, protection, and rehabilitation.
Statement 2 is correct. The Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 aims to balance accountability with rehabilitation. It emphasizes rehabilitation and social reintegration of children in conflict with law. The Act focuses on reformative approaches and alternatives to incarceration.
Source: The Hindu
