NEW DELHI, October 11, 2026: The Supreme Court of India’s Juvenile Justice Committee, in association with UNICEF, is holding a two-day national consultation to mark ten years of implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The consultation is scheduled for October 10 and 11 at the Supreme Court complex in New Delhi.

According to the Supreme Court’s announcement, the meeting brings together judges, senior government officials, child-protection specialists and representatives of organisations working on children’s welfare. Its purpose is to review progress, identify implementation challenges and discuss priorities for the next decade.

What is the Juvenile Justice Act?

The Juvenile Justice Act provides the legal framework for matters involving children in conflict with the law and children who need care and protection. It covers areas including the functioning of Juvenile Justice Boards, child-care institutions, rehabilitation, adoption procedures and mechanisms intended to protect children’s rights.

Implementation depends not only on the law itself but also on how consistently institutions operate across states and Union Territories, whether trained personnel are available, and whether children can access appropriate care, legal support and rehabilitation.

Issues on the consultation agenda

The Supreme Court’s published programme lists discussions on children in conflict with the law, preliminary assessments in heinous-offence cases by Juvenile Justice Boards, care and protection for vulnerable children, adoption procedures, institutional care and rehabilitation. Sessions are also intended to let states and Union Territories share their implementation experiences.

A compendium of significant Supreme Court and High Court judgments relating to the Act, covering the period from 2015 to September 2026, was listed as a key feature of the consultation. The agenda also includes discussion of institutional coordination, child-friendly justice and the rehabilitation and reintegration of children.

Why implementation matters

A national review can help identify differences in practice and areas where coordination or capacity needs improvement. However, the announcement of a consultation does not itself establish that new rules have been adopted or that specific reforms have already taken effect. Any resulting recommendations or policy changes should be assessed against the official proceedings and subsequent government or judicial decisions.

As the consultation concludes on October 11, the next development to watch is the publication of its recommendations, if any, and whether authorities announce concrete follow-up measures. The Supreme Court’s programme describes the meeting as a forum for review and deliberation, rather than announcing a new legal amendment.

Sources

MarketNex note: This report describes the announced consultation and its agenda. It does not attribute recommendations or outcomes to the meeting unless they are confirmed in a subsequent official release.