Legal Articles

Juvenile delinquency in India refers to unlawful behaviour involving children below the age of 18 and raises important concerns about child welfare, rehabilitation, and public safety. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 provides a specialised legal framework for handling children in conflict with the law, with emphasis on rehabilitation, education, counselling, and social reintegration. Challenges such as family instability, poverty, peer influence, limited educational opportunities, and inadequate support services can contribute to juvenile offending. Addressing these issues requires early intervention, family and community support, effective rehabilitation programmes, and child-friendly justice procedures.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand, implemented on 27 January 2025, establishes a common legal framework for several personal matters, including marriage, divorce, inheritance, succession, and live-in relationships. The legislation introduces provisions for marriage and live-in relationship registration, uniform succession rules, and restrictions on certain marital practices. It aims to promote consistency and equality in personal laws across covered communities. However, Scheduled Tribes and certain constitutionally protected customary rights are excluded from its application. The UCC represents a significant development in India’s personal-law system, with important implications for family relationships, property rights, and legal documentation.

Abortion laws differ significantly between India and other countries, reflecting varying legal approaches to reproductive rights, healthcare, and pregnancy termination. In India, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971, as amended in 2021, permits abortion under specified conditions, with different requirements depending on the stage of pregnancy. Other countries may impose different gestational limits, medical requirements, exceptions, or restrictions, and some laws vary within individual states or regions. Understanding these differences highlights the importance of reproductive autonomy, access to safe healthcare, medical confidentiality, and compliance with applicable legal procedures.

Challenging allegedly false accusations under the POCSO Act in India requires careful examination of the evidence, witness statements, investigation records, and surrounding circumstances. An accused person may rely on lawfully obtained digital records, relevant documents, medical or forensic evidence, and inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case while exercising the right to a fair trial. Depending on the circumstances, legal remedies may include bail, discharge, or quashing of proceedings. However, an acquittal or inconsistency does not automatically establish that a complaint was deliberately false. Courts must balance the accused person’s legal rights with the child’s safety, dignity, and statutory protections.

Maintenance laws in India provide financial support to eligible spouses, children, parents, and certain other dependants who are unable to maintain themselves adequately. Maintenance may be claimed under Section 144 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (formerly Section 125 CrPC), the Hindu Marriage Act, Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, and other applicable personal laws. Courts consider factors such as income, earning capacity, financial needs, standard of living, and family responsibilities when determining maintenance. Depending on the circumstances, relief may include interim maintenance, ongoing payments, or other financial support, with legal remedies available for non-compliance.