Justice Nagarathna notes 55% of juvenile cases pending across 18 States and 2 UTs
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Vulnerable sections (SC/ST, minorities, disabled, elderly, children)· Prelims + Mains·
Judicial pendency and child rights: a GS2 case study on systemic bottlenecks in juvenile justice.
Why in news
Justice B.V. Nagarathna highlighted a significant backlog in the juvenile justice system during a Supreme Court consultation with UNICEF, noting that 55% of cases are pending across 18 States and 2 UTs.
Background
Justice B.V. Nagarathna cited an India Justice Report study from November 2025 during a Supreme Court consultation with UNICEF. The study revealed that 55% of juvenile cases are pending across 18 States and 2 Union Territories under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
Facts for Prelims
- Act / BillJuvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
- Fact55% of juvenile cases are pending across 18 States and 2 Union Territories
- BodyUNICEF participated in the Supreme Court consultation regarding juvenile justice
- Report / IndexIndia Justice Report study published in November 2025
Prelims practice question
Which act governs the care and protection of children in the context of juvenile justice in India?
- (a)Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986
- (b)Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012
- (c)Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
- (d)Right to Education Act, 2009
Show answer
Answer: (c) Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 — The note identifies the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 as the relevant legislation.
For Mains
Q. Examine the systemic bottlenecks in the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and suggest measures to prioritize rehabilitation over mere case disposal.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Institutional bottleneck: Shortage of specialized juvenile courts and dedicated probation officers leading to high pendency
- Policy trade-off: Balancing the speed of judicial disposal with the intensive requirements of child-centric rehabilitation
- Infrastructure gap: Lack of adequate observation homes and counseling facilities in rural jurisdictions
Keywords: Juvenile Justice · Rehabilitation · Judicial Pendency · Child Rights · Systemic Bottlenecks
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.