Child and women protection laws: JJ Act, POCSO and PWDVA

Social Work (MSW) · Fields of practice · free study notes for exams, placements and interviews

In short

These three statutes are the core of India's statutory child and women protection framework: the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 handles children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection; the POCSO Act, 2012 criminalises all forms of sexual offence against persons under 18; and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 gives civil remedies to women facing abuse at home. An MSW graduate is a statutory actor under all three — as a Child Welfare Committee member, social worker preparing Social Investigation Reports, support person under POCSO, or Protection Officer / Service Provider under PWDVA. The topic is examined in Fields of Practice papers, in UGC-NET Social Work, and in recruitment tests for DCPUs, Childline/ Child Helpline 1098, One Stop Centres, Sakhi centres, CHILDLINE successors, UNICEF/Save the Children/CRY projects and CSR child-rights roles. Interviews test procedure knowledge — timelines, who reports to whom, which form, which authority.

Explained

Constitutional and international base

Article 15(3) allows special provision for women and children; Article 21 (life and dignity, read with privacy); Article 23 (trafficking and forced labour); Article 24 (no child under 14 in hazardous employment).
Article 39(e) and (f) — Directive Principles: children must be given opportunities to develop in conditions of freedom and dignity and be protected against exploitation and moral/material abandonment; Article 45 early childhood care; Article 51A(k) parental duty to provide education for 6–14 years.
India ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), 1992 — four pillars: survival, development, protection, participation; and CEDAW, 1993 (with reservations). JJ Act 2015 expressly draws from UNCRC, the Beijing Rules, Riyadh Guidelines and the Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption.
National Policy for Children, 2013 — four key priorities: survival/health/nutrition, education and development, protection, participation.
Delivery scheme: child protection services are now funded under Mission Vatsalya (which subsumed the Integrated Child Protection Scheme, ICPS); women's protection services under Mission Shakti (Sambal + Samarthya components, covering One Stop Centres, Women Helpline, Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, Palna).

JJ (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 — two categories of children

The Act replaced the JJ Act 2000. "Child" means a person below 18. It splits into two streams with separate authorities.

Child in conflict with law (CCL): a child alleged or found to have committed an offence while below 18. Age is reckoned on the date of the offence.
Child in need of care and protection (CNCP), s.2(14): found without home/means; found working in contravention of labour law; living with a person who has threatened or is likely to harm them; mentally ill or ill with no support; abandoned or surrendered; missing or run away; abused/tortured/exploited for sexual abuse or illegal acts; at imminent risk of child marriage; victim of armed conflict, civil unrest or disaster; and other listed grounds.
General principles (s.3) — 16 principles including presumption of innocence (up to 18), dignity and worth, participation, best interest, family responsibility, safety, positive measures, non-stigmatising semantics, non-waiver of rights, equality and non-discrimination, right to privacy and confidentiality, institutionalisation as a last resort, repatriation and restoration, fresh start (destruction of records), diversion, and natural justice.

JJ Act — authorities, process and timelines

Juvenile Justice Board (JJB): a Metropolitan/Judicial Magistrate First Class (not a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or Sessions Judge) plus two social worker members, at least one a woman; sits in every district. Deals only with CCL. It must hold at least one sitting a week and may not sit in a regular court premises.
Child Welfare Committee (CWC): a Chairperson plus four members, at least one a woman and one an expert on children's needs; the district's final authority on CNCP, with powers of a Metropolitan Magistrate. Meets at least 20 days a month; a child may be produced before any single member when the Committee is not sitting.
Produce the child within 24 hours (excluding travel time) before the JJB or CWC.
Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) in each district and Child Welfare Police Officer (CWPO) in every police station — at least one in each station handles children.
Inquiry timelines: JJB inquiry for petty/serious offences must finish within 4 months, extendable by 2 months with reasons (for petty offences the proceeding terminates if not completed in 6 months); CWC inquiry on a CNCP to be completed within 4 months, extendable by the CWC.
Classification of offences: petty (IPC/other law maximum punishment under 3 years), serious (3 to 7 years), heinous (minimum punishment of 7 years or more). The 2021 amendment made "serious offences" include offences with punishment above 7 years but no minimum prescribed.
16–18 heinous cases: the JJB conducts a preliminary assessment (s.15) within 3 months into mental and physical capacity, ability to understand consequences and circumstances — not into guilt. It may then transfer the case to the Children's Court, which decides whether to try the child as an adult; no child can be given death or life imprisonment without the possibility of release. A child tried as an adult is kept in a place of safety till 21, then reviewed.
Dispositional orders for CCL (s.18): advice/admonition, group counselling, community service, fine payable by parent, probation with parent/guardian or fit facility (up to 3 years), or special home for up to 3 years. No child may be kept in a police lockup or jail.
Institutions: Observation Home (during inquiry), Special Home (after a finding), Place of Safety (18+ or transferred children), Children's Home, Open Shelter, Specialised Adoption Agency, Fit Facility, Fit Person. Compulsory registration of all child care institutions within 6 months of the Act's commencement (s.41), irrespective of whether they receive government aid — registration is mandatory, non-registration is a punishable offence.
Aftercare (s.46): financial and other support for a child leaving an institution on turning 18, up to 21 years, extendable to 23 in some States' rules.
Offences against children in the Act: cruelty by a person in charge (s.75 — up to 3 years), employing a child for begging (s.76), giving a child intoxicating liquor or drugs (s.77), using a child for illegal activities or as a militant (s.83), sale and procurement of children (s.81), corporal punishment in a CCI (s.82), disclosure of identity (s.74).
Adoption: governed by s.56–73 and CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) with the CARINGS portal; a child is legally free for adoption only after the CWC declares so (surrender requires a two-month reconsideration period for the biological parents). Since the JJ Amendment Act, 2021 (in force 1 September 2022) the adoption order is passed by the District Magistrate, not the court, and the DM is also the appellate authority over the CWC and monitors the district machinery.
DCPU (District Child Protection Unit) is the implementing arm; NCPCR/SCPCR (CPCR Act, 2005) monitor rights and can inquire into violations; Child Helpline 1098.

POCSO Act, 2012 — offences, procedure and the social worker's role

A gender-neutral, child-specific criminal law for anyone below 18; it overrides other laws where inconsistent and operates in addition to them. Major strengthening by the POCSO (Amendment) Act, 2019.
Offence categories: penetrative sexual assault (s.3, punishment s.4 — minimum 10 years since the 2019 amendment, and for a child under 16 minimum 20 years to life); aggravated penetrative sexual assault (s.5–6 — aggravating circumstances include offender being a police officer, public servant, staff of a jail/hospital/educational institution, relative, gang assault, assault causing pregnancy or HIV, child under 12; punishment minimum 20 years up to death since 2019); sexual assault (s.7–8 — touch with sexual intent, 3–5 years); aggravated sexual assault (s.9–10, 5–7 years); sexual harassment (s.11–12, up to 3 years); use of a child for pornographic purposes (s.13–15).
Presumption of guilt (s.29) once the prosecution establishes the foundational facts, and presumption of culpable mental state (s.30) — the accused must rebut these. Consent of the child is irrelevant — any sexual act with a person under 18 is an offence.
Mandatory reporting (s.19–21): any person who apprehends or has knowledge that an offence has been committed must report to the SJPU or local police; failure to report by a person in charge of an institution/company is punishable up to 1 year; media, studio and photographic professionals must report material they come across (s.20). Section 22 protects a child from punishment for a false complaint but punishes a false complaint made by an adult with malice.
Recording the child's statement (s.24–27): by a woman sub-inspector or above, as far as possible, at the child's residence or a place of the child's choice, not in a police station, not in uniform, never in the presence of the accused; the child must not be detained in a police station at night; an interpreter, special educator or expert must be provided where needed. Medical examination under s.27 (and BNSS/CrPC) is done by a woman doctor for a girl child, in the presence of a parent or a person the child trusts, and without waiting for an FIR.
Special Court and timelines: a designated Special Court in each district with a Special Public Prosecutor; in-camera trial, no aggressive questioning or character assassination, questions routed through the judge, screens or video-link so the child does not see the accused, frequent breaks, a parent or trusted person present. Evidence to be recorded within 30 days of the court taking cognisance; trial to be completed, as far as possible, within 1 year. Child's identity cannot be disclosed (s.23).
Support person (POCSO Rules, 2020): the CWC may assign a support person — typically a social worker or a person working with an NGO — to render assistance to the child through the investigation and trial, inform the child of proceedings, and the child/guardian may seek assistance of a legal counsel of choice. The Rules also require the child's need assessment within 24 hours by the CWC and provide for interim compensation at any stage and final compensation by the Special Court; the POCSO Rules, 2020 replaced the 2012 Rules.
e-Box — NCPCR's online complaint facility; Child Helpline 1098; Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) including exclusive POCSO courts under a centrally sponsored scheme.
POCSO must be read with: Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (marriage below 18 for girls, 21 for boys is voidable; Child Marriage Prohibition Officers; s.9–11 penalties), the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 (no child under 14 in any occupation except family enterprise/ audio-visual, no adolescent 14–18 in hazardous occupations), and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.

PWDVA, 2005 — a civil law for women facing domestic violence

In force from 26 October 2006, with the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Rules, 2006. It is civil in nature — it gives protection and relief; only breach of a protection order (s.31) is a criminal offence (up to 1 year and/or ₹20,000 fine, cognizable and non-bailable).
Aggrieved person (s.2(a)): any woman of any age who is or has been in a domestic relationship with the respondent and alleges domestic violence. Domestic relationship (s.2(f)) covers consanguinity, marriage, a relationship "in the nature of marriage" (live-in), adoption or joint family membership. Shared household (s.2(s)) — ownership or title is irrelevant.
Respondent (s.2(q)): an adult male in a domestic relationship; the proviso allows a complaint against a relative of the husband/male partner, and in Hiral P. Harsora v. Kusum Narottamdas Harsora (2016) the Supreme Court struck down "adult male" as unconstitutional — so female relatives (mother-in-law, sister-in-law) can also be respondents.
Domestic violence (s.3): four heads — physical, sexual, verbal and emotional (including insults over not bringing dowry or not having a male child), and economic abuse (denial of money, food, clothing, stridhan, disposing of assets, stopping access to the shared household). Harassment for dowry is expressly covered.
Reliefs the Magistrate (Judicial Magistrate First Class / Metropolitan Magistrate) can grant:
1. Protection order (s.18) — prohibits further violence, contact, entering her workplace/school, operating joint accounts, communicating.
2. Residence order (s.19) — right to reside in the shared household; restrains dispossession; may direct alternate accommodation or rent of the same level; a woman cannot be evicted without her consent.
3. Monetary relief (s.20) — loss of earnings, medical expenses, loss from destroyed property, maintenance (in addition to maintenance under the former s.125 CrPC, now s.144 BNSS, 2023).
4. Custody order (s.21) — temporary custody of children to the aggrieved woman, with visitation to the respondent if not harmful.
5. Compensation order (s.22) — for mental torture and emotional distress.
6. Ex parte interim order (s.23) on the basis of an affidavit (Form III).
Procedure and timelines: application in Form II under s.12; the court must fix the first hearing within 3 days of receipt and dispose of the application within 60 days of the first hearing, as far as possible. Proceedings may be held in camera (s.16). Orders remain in force until the woman applies for discharge; appeal to the Court of Session within 30 days (s.29).
Duty bearers:
- Protection Officer (PO, s.8–9): appointed by the State in each district, preferably a woman; prepares the Domestic Incident Report (DIR, Form I), assists the woman in filing, gets her medical aid, shelter, legal aid (through DLSA), ensures service of notice and monitors compliance; is under the control of the Magistrate and a public servant. Failure/refusal to discharge duties is punishable (s.33) — up to 1 year and/or ₹20,000.
- Service Provider (s.10): an NGO registered under the Societies Registration Act / Companies Act / any law, registered with the State, which may record a DIR, get the woman medically examined and lodge her in a shelter home; it has legal immunity for anything done in good faith (s.35).
- Shelter home (s.6) and medical facility (s.7) must accommodate/treat a woman on request, with or without a DIR.
- Section 5 duty to inform: a police officer, PO, Service Provider or Magistrate who receives a complaint must inform the woman of her right to reliefs, to a Service Provider, to free legal aid and to file a complaint under s.498A IPC (now s.85/86 BNS, 2023).
Related women's laws to distinguish: Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961; s.85 and 86 BNS, 2023 (cruelty by husband or his relatives — the former IPC s.498A) and s.80 BNS (dowry death — former s.304B); POSH Act, 2013 (sexual harassment at the workplace — Internal Committee, 90-day inquiry); Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act as amended in 2021 (up to 24 weeks for certain categories); PCPNDT Act, 1994; Maternity Benefit Act as amended in 2017 (26 weeks); Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which replaced the IPC from 1 July 2024 — so quote BNS sections for criminal offences and note the old IPC number only alongside.

The social worker's role across the three laws

Statutory positions: JJB social worker member; CWC member/chairperson; DCPU Protection Officer (Institutional Care / Non-Institutional Care); District Child Protection Officer; POCSO support person; PWDVA Protection Officer; One Stop Centre case worker and counsellor.
Core professional tasks: Social Investigation Report (SIR) on a CCL and Social Background Report / Individual Care Plan (ICP) for a CNCP; Home Study Report in adoption and foster care; Domestic Incident Report under PWDVA; psychosocial counselling and preparing a child for court testimony without coaching the evidence.
Methods used: casework (intake, assessment, intervention plan, follow-up, closure), group work in homes, family counselling and mediation, restorative practice and diversion for petty offences, community awareness, and non-institutional care — sponsorship, foster care, aftercare and adoption (in that order of preference over institutional care).
Ethics: confidentiality and non-disclosure of identity, best interest of the child, informed assent, no victim-blaming, mandatory reporting takes precedence over confidentiality in POCSO, do not negotiate a POCSO "compromise", avoid dual roles (counsellor and investigator).

Key points

Child - any person below 18 under both the JJ Act, 2015 and POCSO, 2012; age for a CCL is counted on the date of the offence.
Two JJ streams - CCL goes to the Juvenile Justice Board; CNCP goes to the Child Welfare Committee; both must see the child within 24 hours.
JJB composition - one Magistrate (JMFC/MM) + two social workers, one of whom must be a woman; CWC is a chairperson + four members with at least one woman.
Offence tiers - petty (under 3 years), serious (3–7), heinous (minimum 7 years or more).
16–18 heinous - JJB preliminary assessment within 3 months on capacity (not guilt); possible transfer to Children's Court for trial as an adult; no death penalty or life without release.
Institutionalisation is a last resort - sponsorship, foster care, adoption and aftercare come first; aftercare support till 21.
CARA and the 2021 amendment - adoption orders are now issued by the District Magistrate; CARINGS is the portal; a surrendered child has a 2-month reconsideration window.
Registration of CCIs is mandatory under s.41 of the JJ Act whether or not they receive government funding.
POCSO is gender-neutral and covers penetrative assault, aggravated penetrative assault, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, sexual harassment and child pornography.
Consent is irrelevant under POCSO; ss.29 and 30 shift the burden onto the accused once foundational facts are proved.
Mandatory reporting (POCSO s.19–21) - everyone must report; non-reporting by a person in charge of an institution is punishable up to one year.
Child-friendly procedure - statement by a woman officer at the child's chosen place, in-camera trial in a Special Court, evidence within 30 days, trial within a year, identity protected.
Support person - the CWC-assigned social worker who accompanies the child through investigation and trial under the POCSO Rules, 2020.
PWDVA is a civil law - its only penal provision is breach of a protection order under s.31; the Act is not a substitute for criminal prosecution under BNS s.85/86.
Four forms of domestic violence - physical, sexual, verbal/emotional, economic; and the right to reside in the shared household regardless of ownership.
Five reliefs - protection, residence, monetary relief, custody, compensation, plus an ex parte interim order on affidavit.
PWDVA timelines - first hearing in 3 days, disposal within 60 days as far as possible, appeal in 30 days.
Key duty bearers - Protection Officer (DIR, Form I), Service Provider, shelter home, medical facility, SJPU/CWPO, DCPU, NCPCR/SCPCR, 1098 helpline, One Stop Centre.

Examples

Case 1 — a 17-year-old charged with robbery. A boy of 17 years 4 months is arrested for robbery (BNS punishment can exceed 7 years with no minimum of 7).

Police: the CWPO/SJPU, not the regular staff, handles him; no lockup, no handcuffs; parents and the Probation Officer informed.
He must be produced before the JJB within 24 hours; bail is the rule under s.12 unless release would defeat the ends of justice or expose him to criminal association.
Classification: robbery here is a serious offence (the 2021 amendment covers offences above 7 years with no minimum), so no preliminary assessment and no transfer to the Children's Court.
The social worker files an SIR covering family, schooling, peer group, substance use and reasons for the offence.
Inquiry must end within 4 months (2-month extension possible). Order under s.18 — likely probation under parental supervision with counselling and community service, not a special home.

Case 2 — a 13-year-old girl disclosing abuse by a tuition teacher. A school counsellor learns of repeated touching with sexual intent.

Mandatory report within POCSO s.19 to the SJPU/local police — the counsellor cannot keep it confidential or "verify" it first; silence is an offence under s.21 for the person in charge of the institution.
Offence: aggravated sexual assault (s.9 — offender in a position of trust over the child), punishment 5–7 years, not the base s.7/8 offence.
Statement recorded by a woman sub-inspector or above at the child's home; medical examination by a woman doctor, no FIR needed first; CWC does a need assessment within 24 hours and assigns a support person.
Trial in the Special Court, in camera, child shielded from the accused, evidence within 30 days of cognisance; interim compensation can be sought at any stage.
The girl is simultaneously a CNCP if the family is unsupportive — the CWC may order shelter, counselling and sponsorship.

Case 3 — a woman in a live-in relationship, thrown out of the house. She has lived with a man for 6 years, faces beating and has been denied money and locked out.

She is an aggrieved person — a relationship "in the nature of marriage" is a domestic relationship under s.2(f); no marriage certificate is needed.
The Protection Officer or an NGO Service Provider records a DIR in Form I; the woman is told of her right to reliefs, a Service Provider, free legal aid and a criminal complaint (s.5).
Application in Form II under s.12; the court must fix the first hearing within 3 days and may pass an ex parte interim order on affidavit (Form III).
Reliefs sought: protection order (s.18) against further violence, residence order (s.19) restraining dispossession from the shared household, monetary relief (s.20) for maintenance and medical costs, and compensation (s.22).
Disposal within 60 days of the first hearing as far as possible; if he breaches the protection order, that is a cognizable, non-bailable offence under s.31 (up to 1 year and/or ₹20,000).

Case 4 — a 15-year-old girl about to be married. Neighbours call 1098 three days before a wedding.

She is a CNCP — a child at imminent risk of marriage is expressly listed in s.2(14) of the JJ Act.
The CWC, SJPU and the Child Marriage Prohibition Officer act jointly; the Magistrate can issue an injunction under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and a marriage performed in breach of an injunction is void.
If the marriage has been solemnised, it is voidable at her option (petition up to 2 years after she attains 18), and any sexual act is an offence under POCSO.
The social worker completes a Social Background Report and Individual Care Plan, prefers restoration with the family under supervision plus sponsorship so that poverty is not the reason for dropping out.

	JJ Act, 2015	POCSO Act, 2012	PWDVA, 2005
Nature	Care, protection and justice (welfare + criminal procedure)	Criminal (special law)	Civil, with one penal section
Who is protected	Any person below 18 — CCL and CNCP	Any person below 18, any gender	Any woman in a domestic relationship
Authority	JJB and CWC, Children's Court, DM	Special Court, SJPU	Judicial Magistrate First Class / Metropolitan Magistrate
Social work post	JJB member, CWC member, PO (DCPU), Probation Officer	Support person	Protection Officer, Service Provider
Key document	SIR / Individual Care Plan	Statement u/s 24–27, need assessment	Domestic Incident Report (Form I)
Main timeline	24 hours to produce; 4-month inquiry; 3-month preliminary assessment	Evidence in 30 days; trial in 1 year	Hearing in 3 days; disposal in 60 days
Scheme support	Mission Vatsalya (replaced ICPS)	Fast Track Special Courts, 1098, e-Box	Mission Shakti — One Stop Centre, 181 helpline

Where it is used

Government child protection machinery: DCPU Protection Officers, District Child Protection Officers, CWC and JJB members, Probation Officers, superintendents and counsellors in Children's Homes, Observation Homes, Special Homes and Open Shelters under Mission Vatsalya.
Women's protection services: One Stop Centres (Sakhi), Women Helpline 181, Shakti Sadan and Sakhi Niwas, Protection Officers in Women and Child Development departments, District Legal Services Authority panels.
NGOs and INGOs: CRY, Save the Children, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, Prayas, Butterflies, Aangan, Snehalaya, Majlis, Jagori, SNEHA, state Child Helpline partners — case workers, support persons, legal aid coordinators, para-legal volunteers.
Hospitals and schools: medical social workers in sexual assault medico-legal cases, hospital child protection committees, school counsellors discharging POCSO mandatory reporting and POSH/child safety committee duties.
Corporates and CSR: child-safeguarding policies, POSH Internal Committees, supply-chain child labour audits and CSR programme managers in child-rights projects under Schedule VII.
Research, training and monitoring: NIPCCD, state judicial academies, NCPCR/SCPCR inquiries and social audits, UNICEF and NIMHANS-supported training of police, judges and CCI staff.

Interview questions

Q: What is the difference between a child in conflict with law and a child in need of care and protection? A: A CCL is alleged or found to have committed an offence while below 18 and goes before the Juvenile Justice Board; a CNCP is a child in a situation listed in s.2(14) — abandoned, abused, working illegally, at risk of marriage — and goes before the Child Welfare Committee.
Q: Can a 17-year-old ever be tried as an adult? A: Yes, only for a heinous offence (minimum punishment 7 years or more) and only if the JJB's preliminary assessment and then the Children's Court decide so; even then death or life imprisonment without the possibility of release cannot be imposed.
Q: What exactly does the JJB's preliminary assessment examine? A: The child's mental and physical capacity to commit the offence, ability to understand its consequences and the circumstances — never guilt or innocence; it must be done within three months.
Q: Who issues an adoption order today? A: The District Magistrate, since the JJ (Amendment) Act, 2021 came into force on 1 September 2022; earlier it was the court. CARA regulates the process through the CARINGS portal.
Q: Is reporting child sexual abuse optional for a counsellor who promised confidentiality? A: No — POCSO s.19 makes reporting mandatory for any person with knowledge or apprehension of the offence, and s.21 punishes failure to report; the statutory duty overrides the promise of confidentiality.
Q: Why does POCSO reverse the burden of proof? A: Sections 29 and 30 presume the offence and the culpable mental state once the prosecution proves the foundational facts, because child sexual offences rarely have independent witnesses; the accused must rebut the presumption.
Q: Does the child's consent matter under POCSO? A: No. Any sexual act with a person below 18 is an offence regardless of apparent consent, which is why adolescent romantic relationships also attract the Act — a point of ongoing judicial and law-commission debate.
Q: What does a support person do? A: Under the POCSO Rules, 2020 the CWC assigns a support person — usually a social worker — to assist the child and family through investigation and trial, explain proceedings, link them to counselling, compensation and legal aid, and report to the CWC.
Q: Is PWDVA a criminal law? A: It is primarily civil — it grants protection, residence, monetary, custody and compensation orders; only breach of a protection order under s.31 is a cognizable, non-bailable offence, punishable up to one year and/or ₹20,000.
Q: Can a mother-in-law be a respondent under PWDVA? A: Yes. The Act's definition said "adult male", but in Hiral P. Harsora v. Kusum Harsora (2016) the Supreme Court struck down those words, so female relatives in the domestic relationship can be respondents.
Q: Can a woman in a live-in relationship claim a residence order? A: Yes — a relationship "in the nature of marriage" is a domestic relationship under s.2(f), and s.19 protects her right to reside in the shared household irrespective of who owns it.
Q: As a Protection Officer, what is the first document you prepare and what must you tell her? A: A Domestic Incident Report in Form I, and under s.5 she must be informed of her right to the reliefs, to a Service Provider and shelter, to free legal aid, and to file a criminal complaint under BNS s.85/86 (the former IPC s.498A).

Common mistakes

Saying the JJ Act applies only to delinquent children — more than half its machinery (CWC, adoption, foster care, aftercare) is about children in need of care and protection.
Mixing up JJB and CWC composition and jurisdiction, or putting a Sessions Judge on the JJB (it is a Magistrate First Class with two social worker members).
Treating the preliminary assessment as a trial of guilt, or applying it to serious and petty offences — it is only for 16–18 year olds in heinous offences.
Still writing that the court passes adoption orders, or quoting the JJ Act, 2000 and the ICPS — the 2015 Act, the 2021 amendment (DM issues adoption orders) and Mission Vatsalya are current.
Calling PWDVA a criminal law, or claiming it punishes domestic violence directly — it is civil, and the criminal route is BNS s.85/86 (former IPC s.498A), with s.31 PWDVA only for breach of a protection order.
Quoting IPC sections for cruelty, dowry death or rape — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 replaced the IPC from 1 July 2024; give the BNS provision and the old number only alongside.
Assuming a POCSO case can be "settled" or compromised with the family, or recording the child's statement in a police station in the presence of the accused.
Confusing PWDVA with the POSH Act, 2013 — PWDVA covers a domestic relationship, POSH covers sexual harassment at the workplace through an Internal Committee.