India’s Failing Juvenile Justice System Denies Minors Reform

Published: 14 January 2026 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

Pooja*, 16, was accused of murdering her mother in 2018 in Uttar Pradesh. Despite being a minor, she spent six years in an adult prison before her case was finally transferred to a Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), which confirmed her age and released her for time served. Pooja’s story illustrates the failures of India’s juvenile justice system, where thousands of children are denied their legal right to protection, rehabilitation, and a second chance at life.

India’s Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, first enacted nearly 40 years ago and amended several times since, aims to safeguard children in conflict with the law and promote rehabilitation. JJBs, composed of a magistrate and two social workers, are tasked with determining whether minors aged 16-18 accused of heinous crimes should be tried as adults. They also oversee observation and special homes, and ensure proper care, counselling, education, and vocational training.

Yet research shows that many JJBs are dysfunctional. According to the India Justice Report, as of 2023, over half of pending cases before 362 boards were unresolved, and one in four boards lacked a full bench. Inadequate oversight and limited data transparency exacerbate the problem, resulting in minors languishing in adult prisons or poorly managed facilities without meaningful reform opportunities.

Children in observation and special homes face overcrowding, limited educational and vocational resources, and exposure to violence and abuse. Deeksha Gujral, programme director at iProbono, says that in many facilities, children “eat, sleep and watch TV,” while gang and drug culture outside the facility often infiltrates these homes.

Fr Antony Sebastian, founder of the NGO Echo, highlights success stories where children accused of serious crimes have turned their lives around. For example, Darshan*, convicted of murdering his friend, was enrolled in counselling, vocational training in hotel management, and completed his education via distance learning. Today, he works in a reputed hotel. Sebastian emphasises, “Every child deserves a second chance. As a society, we owe them at least that much.”

Experts stress that to reform India’s juvenile justice system, JJBs must be properly staffed, facilities regularly monitored, and society committed to rehabilitation rather than mere punishment. Without meaningful implementation, children like Pooja will continue to lose the protection and opportunities the law intends to provide.