Legal Provisions Regarding Child Rights And Protections In India

Abhilipsa Kar, Birla Global University, BBSR, Odisha

INTRODUCTION

Children are our country's future, and they require improved legislation to ensure their basic rights and freedoms and safeguard them from the scary world. There is various definition of children according to various legislations of our country. Like according to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulations) Act, 1986, the definition of child includes any person who has not crossed the age of 14 years. Similarly, according to the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1926, the definition depends on the gender of the specified individual, like for men the age is 21 years where on the other hand for women it is 18 years. As per the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2000, a juvenile or a child means any person who has not completed the age of 18 years. The Constitution of India which is otherwise known as the Law of our Land provides many provisions regarding the rights and protection of children. The provisions are Article 7 and 8, Article 21 and 21A, Article 14 and 15, Article 24, Article 39(e), Article 39(f), Article 45 and Article 46. Also, there are many provisions mentioned in the Indian Penal Code which refers situations where law provide them with second chance for their reformation by minimising the punishment and by providing adequate lessons.