Sociological analysis uncovers how power and knowledge shape legal interpretations of maturity in the juvenile justice system, highlighting the impacts of legislative reforms on older adolescents.
India’s Juvenile Justice System has evolved in response to social demands and international conventions, classifying children as in need of care or in conflict with the law. A major shift occurred with the 2015 amendment, prompted by the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, allowing 16 to 18 year olds to be tried as adults for heinous crimes. This paper critically examines the juvenile justice system using a Foucauldian framework, analyzing how discourses of power and knowledge shape legal interpretations of maturity and justice. It explores multidisciplinary debates around the amendment and offers a sociological analysis of the juvenile justice landscape 10 years after the reform.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Meenakshi Saharan (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: