Juvenile Justice And Legal Literacy: Bridging The Awareness Gap In India’s Legal Aid Framework
- IJLLR Journal
- 8 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Suchitra Chaudhary, PhD Scholar, NIILM University, Haryana
ABSTRACT
Legal literacy is essential for empowering children involved with the law and those in need of care and protection to effectively access justice. In India, the Juvenile Justice system is intended to be child-focused, rehabilitative, and grounded in constitutional principles of equality and dignity. Despite these intentions, a notable gap persists between the rights provided under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and (National Legal Services Authorities) Act 1987 the level of awareness about these rights within communities. This disconnect impacts not only the children themselves but also their families and the key institutions involved in juvenile justice, including police, probation officers, child welfare committees, and juvenile justice boards.
This study investigates how limited legal awareness restricts juveniles from asserting their rights, engaging in justice processes, and utilizing available legal aid services. It further examines how socio-economic challenges, educational limitations, and systemic delays contribute to this divide. Employing a mixed-method approach—encompassing document review, interviews with stakeholders, and case observations—the research identifies practical barriers that hinder the full realization of juvenile rights. The results underscore the need for enhanced community outreach, simplified legal education initiatives, and strengthened collaboration among institutions to bridge the gap between legal entitlements and actual understanding.
By drawing attention to these structural challenges and proposing actionable solutions, this study emphasizes that promoting legal literacy is not merely a supportive strategy but a crucial step toward reinforcing India’s juvenile justice framework, ensuring that every child’s rights are comprehensively understood and effectively protected.
Keywords: Legal Literacy, Juvenile Justice Rights, Legal Awareness, Rehabilitation, Access to Justice.
