Question

In the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, 2015, "children in need of care and protection" specifically excludes:

• A. Children engaged in unlawful activities
• B. Orphaned children
• C. Children subjected to sexual abuse
• D. Children working in hazardous conditions

Hint:

Remember the two arms of the JJ Act: The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for the victim child (CNCP) and the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) for the accused child (CCL). A child cannot be in both categories for the same reason.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, creates two distinct categories of children:
1. Child in need of care and protection (CNCP): A child who is a victim or is vulnerable. (Dealt with by the Child Welfare Committee - CWC).
2. Child in conflict with law (CCL): A child who is alleged to have committed an offense. (Dealt with by the Juvenile Justice Board - JJB).
The question asks who is excluded from the CNCP category.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the options:

(A) Children engaged in unlawful activities: A child who is alleged to have committed an offense falls under the definition of a 'child in conflict with law' (CCL), not a CNCP. Therefore, this category is specifically excluded from the CNCP definition.
(B) Orphaned children: An orphaned, abandoned, or surrendered child is a classic example of a CNCP as defined in Section 2(14) of the Act.
(C) Children subjected to sexual abuse: A child who is or is likely to be abused, tortured, or exploited for any purpose is explicitly included in the CNCP definition.
(D) Children working in hazardous conditions: A child who is found working in contravention of labour laws is also included in the CNCP definition.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Children engaged in unlawful activities are categorized as 'children in conflict with law' and are therefore specifically excluded from the definition of 'children in need of care and protection'.