Home / India News / ‘Child in conflict with law’ describes a circumstance, not identity: CJI ‘Child in conflict with law’ describes a circumstance, not identity: CJI The CJI said 10 years is a short time for a statute, but it is more than half of a childhood Chief Justice of India Surya Kant (File Photo) Press Trust of India New Delhi 5 min read Last Updated : Oct 10 2026 | 5:11 PM IST Listen to This Article Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said names of ‘children in conflict with t
In a recent statement, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) made a compelling point about the phrase “child in conflict with law.” Now, before you roll your eyes and think this is just another legal jargon that sounds more confusing than it needs to be, let’s break it down. The CJI emphasized that this term describes a situation rather than defining who the child is. And honestly, thank goodness for that!
Imagine if we labeled every kid who made a poor choice as a “criminal” for life. That would be like calling every teenager who forgets to take out the trash a “domestic delinquent.” Spoiler alert: we’d have a lot of labels to manage! It’s crucial to understand that children are still developing, both physically and mentally. Ten years, as the CJI pointed out, is a short time for a statute, but it represents more than half of a child’s formative years. That’s a lot of time for growth, change, and, let’s face it, making mistakes.
The CJI’s remarks highlight a fundamental principle in juvenile justice: the focus should be on rehabilitation rather than punishment. After all, we wouldn’t want to send a child down a path of despair just because they made a poor decision. Instead, we should be looking at how we can help them learn from their mistakes and reintegrate them into society. It’s like trying to teach a puppy not to chew on your favorite shoes instead of just locking it in the basement. Spoiler alert: the puppy will just find a way to chew on something else.
This perspective is particularly important when dealing with young offenders. Stigmatizing children who find themselves in conflict with the law can lead to a cycle of reoffending, as they internalize this identity. If society labels them as “bad kids,” they might just start believing it. And that’s where things get messy. Not to mention, it’s a pretty bleak outlook for a future generation.
Let’s not forget that every child is capable of change. They might not always be perfect angels (who are we kidding?), but they are also not defined by their mistakes. Instead of slapping them with labels, we should be offering support, guidance, and a little bit of understanding. Think of it as giving them a second chance, or maybe even a third or fourth. After all, who among us hasn’t needed a few extra chances in life?
In conclusion, the CJI’s message is clear: let’s stop defining children by their mistakes and start focusing on their potential for growth. It’s a pretty radical idea, right? But sometimes, all it takes is a little shift in perspective to make a world of difference. Now, if only we could apply this logic to adults who still can’t seem to figure out how to share the remote control…
Inspired by: “CJI: ‘Child in conflict with law’ describes circumstance, not identity” (r/World)