Section 4 of JJ Act : Section 4: Juvenile Justice Board

Explanation using Example

Imagine a 15-year-old boy named Rohan who has been caught shoplifting in a district in India. As Rohan is a minor and thus considered a child in conflict with the law, his case is not handled by the regular criminal courts. Instead, his case is brought before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) as mandated by Section 4 of The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

The JJB in Rohan's district is composed of a Principal Magistrate, who is a Judicial Magistrate of First Class with at least three years of experience, and two social workers, one of whom is a woman. These social workers have been actively involved in child-related activities for over seven years and have the necessary qualifications in fields like child psychology or law.

The Board has been established by the State Government, and all its members have undergone the required induction training and sensitisation on child care and legal provisions within sixty days from their appointment.

Rohan's case is heard by the JJB, which has the power to decide on a rehabilitation plan for him, taking into account his age, circumstances, and the nature of the offense. The Board's decision aims at helping Rohan reintegrate into society rather than punishing him in a manner that an adult criminal court might.