Crimes by juveniles is a harsh reality in India. In recent times juveniles were found to be involved in heinous crimes such as murder and rape. Juveniles who are considered to be childish or immature in their senses often unknowingly under the peer influence or societal trends commits crime. As there is a general saying ‘No one is born criminal, circumstances make him so.’ Socio-cultural environment around juveniles has a significant influence and impact on their acts. The Juvenile Justice Act, which has been amended with times, deals with the delinquency committed by juveniles with the purpose of rehabilitation of juvenile and assimilate him/her in mainstream society. The rational is that a child still has the possibility of getting reformed due to his/her lack of maturity and tender age. The approach is that it is the responsibility of state to protect and reform the juvenile. But with the increase in heinous crimes by juveniles, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2015 was amended and juveniles aged between 16-18 can be put to trial as an adult. In this present article, we would be discussing about how the cases of juveniles are treated differently than adults, what provisions are there which help in reforming the child and whether the amendment in the juvenile law deterred the government from the reformative approach.

Keywords: Delinquency; Juvenile Justice System; Juvenile Justice Act; Juvenile Justice Board.