The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014

Introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 12, 2014. It repeals the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.

Contents

Objectives Coverage General principles Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) Children’s Court Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPU) and Child Welfare Police Officers Penalties

Objectives

The Bill seeks to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children as ratified by India in 1992.

It specifies procedural safeguards in cases of children in conflict with law.

It seeks to address challenges in the existing Act such as delays in adoption processes, high pendency of cases, accountability of institutions, etc.

The Bill further seeks to address children in the 16-18 age group, in conflict with law, as an increased incidence of crimes committed by them have been reported over the past few years.[Nirbhaya Case]

Coverage

The Bill defines a child as anyone less than 18 years of age. However, a special provision has been inserted for the possibility of trying 16-18 year olds

committing heinous offences, as adults. A heinous offence is defined as one for which the minimum punishment under the Indian Penal Code

is seven years.

General principles

These include (i) principle of presumption of innocence for any child up to the age of 18 years;

The presumption of innocence (the burden of proof is on he who declares, not on he who denies), is the principle that one is considered innocent until proven guilty.

(ii) principle of best interest [Deciding what is best for a child] for all decisions taken regarding the child;

(iii) principle of institutionalisation stating that a child shall be placed in institutional care as a step of last resort, etc.

Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs)

One or more JJBs to be constituted, for each district, for dealing with children in conflict with law. JJBs are composed of a Metropolitan or Judicial Magistrate and two social workers, one of

whom shall be a woman. Powers and responsibilities of the JJBs include

(i) ensuring legal aid for a child; (ii) adjudicating and disposing of cases related to children in conflict with law; (iii) conducting regular inspection of adult jails to ensure no child is lodged in such jails and other

inspection visits and; (iv) conducting inspection visits of residential facilities for such children.

Children’s Court

A Children’s Court is a Court established under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 or a Special Court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

It will try 16-18 year olds that commit heinous offences, after confirming that they are fit to be tried as adults.

It ensures that a child in conflict with law is sent to a place of safety until he attains the age of 21 years, after which he is transferred to a jail.

During the child’s stay in the place of safety, reformative services such as counselling, etc. shall be provided.

The Court shall ensure periodic follow up reports by District Child Protection Units.

Child Welfare Committees (CWCs)

States shall constitute one or more CWCs for each district for dealing with children in need of care and protection.

The powers and responsibilities of a CWC include: (i) conducting inquiries; (ii) selecting registered institutions for the placement of a child and;

(iii) addressing orphans, abandoned children, surrendered children and sexually abused children, etc.

Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPU) and Child Welfare Police Officers

An SJPU will be established in each district, consisting of a police officer and two social workers. One Child Welfare Police Officer will be present in every police station.

Adoption

Prospective adoptive parents must be consenting. A single or divorced person can also adopt, but a single male cannot adopt a girl child. Parents must be physically fit, financially sound, and mentally alert and motivated to adopt. Regulations regarding adoption shall be framed by the Central Adoption Resource Authority.

Penalties

Any official, who does not report an abandoned or orphaned child within 24 hours, is liable to imprisonment up to six months or fine of Rs 10,000 or both.

The penalty for non-registration of child care institutions is imprisonment up to one year or fine of one lakh rupees, or both.

The penalty for giving a child intoxicating liquor, narcotic or psychotropic substances is imprisonment up to seven years or fine of one lakh rupees, or both.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

human rights treaty which sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children

The Convention defines a child as any human being under the age of eighteen Nations that ratify this convention are bound to it by international law Compliance is monitored by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Governments of countries that have ratified the Convention are required to report

Currently, 194 countries are party to it, including every member of the United Nations except Somalia, South Sudan and the United States

Mudumalai National Park

Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary also a declared Tiger Reserve lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains) in Kongu Nadu region of Tamil Nadu It shares its boundaries with the states of Karnataka and Kerala. The protected area is home to several endangered and vulnerable species including Indian elephant,

Bengal tiger, gaur and Indian leopard. There are at least 266 species of birds in the sanctuary, including critically endangered Indian white-

rumped vulture and long-billed vulture. The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000 km2 (2,300 sq mi)), including all of Mudumalai

National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site

What was the Human Genome Project?

DNA Sequencing

DNA sequencing is a laboratory technique used to determine the exact sequence of bases (A, C, G, and T) in a DNA molecule.

The DNA base sequence carries the information a cell needs to assemble protein and RNA molecules.

DNA sequence information is important to scientists investigating the functions of genes.

The technology of DNA sequencing was made faster and less expensive as a part of the Human Genome Project.

What is a genome?

A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. Each genome contains all of the information needed to build and maintain that organism. In humans, a copy of the entire genome—more than 3 billion DNA base pairs—is contained in all

cells that have a nucleus.

What was the Human Genome Project and why has it been important?

The Human Genome Project was an international research effort to determine the sequence of the human genome and identify the genes that it contains.

The work of the Human Genome Project has allowed researchers to begin to understand the blueprint for building a person.

As researchers learn more about the functions of genes and proteins, this knowledge will have a major impact in the fields of medicine, biotechnology, and the life sciences.

What were the goals of the Human Genome Project?

The main goals of the Human Genome Project were to provide a complete and accurate sequence of the 3 billion DNA base pairs that make up the human genome and to find all of the estimated 20,000 to 25,000 human genes.

The Project also aimed to sequence the genomes of several other organisms that are important to medical research, such as the mouse and the fruit fly.

Section 66A a necessary deterrent, says government

Section 66A of the Information Technology Act Section 66A prescribes a three-year jail term to a person found guilty of causing “annoyance or

inconvenience” through social media. The court had asked the government to explain what constituted “grossly offensive.” The government maintained that the provision was a necessary deterrent and could not be cast

away on the apprehension that it would be misused to affect the freedom of speech and expression.

Cabinet approves agreement on BRICS development bank

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave approval for establishing the New Development Bank (NDB) and the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA).

Heads of the five nation BRICS group — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — decided at their sixth summit in Fortaleza in July 2014 to create a development bank as well as a reserve fund to finance infrastructure projects and other sustainable development projects.

The $100 billion BRICS CRA would help countries deal with short-term liquidity pressures, provide mutual support and further strengthen financial stability.

The agreement will enter into force and the Bank begin operations only after all member-countries deposit their instruments of ratification with Brazil.

The release added that signing of the agreement for the establishment of the New Development Bank was expected to allow India to raise and obtain more resources for the much-needed infrastructure development

Besides, the governance structure and decision-making in the Bank would be equitable unlike the existing multilateral development banks

India will hold the Presidency of the New Development Bank for the first six years The Bank will be based in Shanghai, China’s financial hub.

Neolithic axes recovered from riverbed

Chalakudy river in Thrissur district, Kerala

Jamaica decriminalises marijuana

Uruguay becomes first nation to legalise marijuana trade Uruguay has become the first country in the world to make it legal to grow, sell and consume

marijuana. The Caribbean island joins over a dozen U.S. states that have legalized or decriminalized pot. Uruguay has legalized it, and Argentina, Colombia and Mexico have recently decriminalized

marijuana possession in small amounts.

Overdraft underJan-Dhan comes under priority sector lending: RBI

Giving a big boost to Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the Reserve Bank of India said bank overdrafts of up to Rs.5,000 in accounts opened under this financial inclusion mission would be treated as priority sector lending.

Under the PMJDY, the overdraft facility is permitted to Aadhaar-enabled accounts after ‘satisfactory operation’ of accounts for six months

Overdraft

An extension of credit from a lending institution when an account reaches zero. An overdraft allows the individual to continue withdrawing money even if the account has no funds in it. Basically the bank allows people to borrow a set amount of money.

What is meant by Priority Sector?

Priority sector refers to those sectors of the economy which may not get timely and adequate credit in the absence of this special dispensation.

Typically, these are small value loans to farmers for agriculture and allied activities, micro and small enterprises, poor people for housing, students for education and other low income groups and weaker sections.

What are the different categories under priority sector?

(i) Agriculture(ii) Micro and Small Enterprises(iii) Education(iv) Housing(v) Export Credit(vi) Others