Child Laws in India

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Child Laws in India

Children are the future of a country. They bring the development & prosperity to the country. But as we all know that the children are the most vulnerable part of the society & can be easily targeted. In India we have enacted many laws & Acts related to Children in order to protect them & to give them a better & sound development. 

Constitutional Provisions : 

Preamble Commitment: Justice, liberty, equality, & fraternity for all the citizens including children are the main purpose of the Constitution. 

Article 14: Equality before law & equal protection of laws. It is available to every person including children. 

Article 15 (3): empowers the State to make special legal provision for children. It makes mandate to the government to ensure children’s welfare constitutionally. 

Article 21: it mandates free & compulsory education for all the children in the age group of 6- 14 yrs. 

Article 23: puts total ban on forced labour & is punishable under the Act. 

Article 24: prohibits employment of children in hazardous factories below the age of 14yrs.; e.g.: mine, match industries etc. 

Article 51 A clause (k) & (j): the parent or the guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or as case may be ward between the age of 6- 14 yrs. 

Directive principles in Constitution of India also provide protection for the children such as, Article 39 (e), Article 39 (f), Article 41, Article 42, Article 45, & Article 47. 

There are many Acts enacted in India for the protection children rights:

The Factories Act, 1948.

The Probation of Offenders Act, 1959.

The Child Labour Act, 1986.

The Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1986.

The Juvenile Justice Act, 2000.

The Pre- Conception & Pre- Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 2002 and many others.

National Policy for Children (NCP), National Institute of public Co-operation & Child Development (NIPCCD), The Integrated Child Development Services are polices made by Government. Even NHRC & UNICEF are also organization, takes special efforts to protect children rights. 

Conclusion : 

The increased crime rate against the children, even after enacting so many laws & implementing them, has raised an alarming concern all over the world as children are being misused for fulfilling some people’s illegal purposes. So along with various laws, it is also our social responsibility to take care of the children & to protect their rights.