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This chapter provides a historical overview of important developments leading to the enactment of the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA) of 2000. It also highlights the salient features of the JJA 2000 and examines critical questions under the act. The purpose of the JJA 2000 is “to consolidate and amend the law relating to juveniles in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection, by providing for proper care, protection and treatment by catering to their development needs, and by adopting a child-friendly approach in the adjudication and disposition of matters in the best interest of children and for their ultimate rehabilitation and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.” The chapter examines the implementation of JJA 2000 from three perspectives: (1) implementation of basic infrastructure; (2) challenges of the judicial mind-set; and (3) the pattern of disposal of cases of children under the JJA 2000.

This chapter presents a discussion on juvenile justice. The Juvenile Justice Act 1986 replaced the Children's Acts. The Juvenile Welfare Board deals with neglected juveniles whereas delinquent juveniles are brought before the juvenile court. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 expands the definition of the ‘neglected juvenile’ by adding new categories of children. It has brought in some significant changes in an attempt to make the system more child-friendly. However, several critiques of this Act are presented. Juvenile justice has been enhanced by reducing the number of ‘at risk’-youth who enter the system. It is noted that juvenile courts should be vital community resources. The needs of the children and the families who appear in juvenile courts have to be considered. A juvenile court of the twenty-first century must have interdisciplinary connections with law, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, and child welfare administration and management.

This chapter discusses the rights of children against sexual abuse and exploitation. Child marriage is a form of sexual abuse of children. Legal intervention in India is in the form of investigations which start with registration of offences under the earlier Juvenile Justice Act 1986 or the present Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 or the Indian Penal Code or the Prevention of Immoral Traffic Act 1956 (amended in 1986). The propelling factor for commercial sexual exploitation of children is the role played by traffickers. The advent of sex tourism and child pornography in India has been discussed in this chapter. Examples of judgments on trafficking are also provided here. The enforcement of law in India has been weak in dealing with abusers, exploiters, and traffickers of children. There have been several initiatives for preventing child pornography on the Internet. It has also been noted that children and young people should be offered more effective protection by the legal process.

This chapter provides an overview of the child rights in India. The Guardians and Wards Act 1890, Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929, Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act 1956, Young Persons Harmful Publications Act 1956, Probation of Offenders Act 1958, Apprentice Act 1961, Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971, Children (Pledging of Labour) Act 1933, and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 are some of the provisions that deal with children. Some major policy and plan documents relating to children are described briefly. The Government of India is enforcing about 120 schemes and programmes for the welfare and development of children and women through more than thirteen ministries and departments. The child's right to development is crucial, both to safeguard the right to a future as well as the rights of future children.