Ministry of Woman and Child Development is working on tabling the revised Bill of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 in the winter session of the Parliament.It has sent the revised draft for inter-Ministerial consultations, after which the approval of the Cabinet will be sought.
“We want to introduce the Bill in the next session of the Parliament. It has some radical changes which will need support from all other Ministries,” said an official from the WCD, Ministry.The WCD Ministry has proposed some special provisions in the revision of Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 to address heinous offences committed by children above the age of 16 years, which will act as a deterrent for child offenders committing such crimes and will also protect the rights of victim to justice.The Ministry also intends to give more teeth to the Child Welfare Committees and Juvenile Justice Boards, The Bill also proposes the streamlining and strengthening measures for adoption including providing statutory status to the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). The Bill has provisions for strengthening punitive measures for offences committed against children. It includes new offences against children such as corporal punishment, ragging and using child for vending peddling, carrying , supplying or smuggling any intoxicating liquor, narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.