(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, any person aggrieved by an order made by the Committee or the Board under this Act may, within thirty days from the date of such order, prefer an appeal to the Children's Court, except for decisions by the Committee related to Foster Care and Sponsorship After Care for which the appeal shall lie from the District Magistrate:
Provided that the Court of Sessions, or the District Magistrate, as the case may be, may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal in time.
(2) An appeal shall lie against an order of the Children's Court to the High Court within sixty days.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 101
Section 101 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 establishes a specialized, comprehensive statutory appellate structure for challenging orders passed by the Board or the Committee.
Sub-section (3) provides for a crucial second appeal: no second appeal lies from an appellate order of the Court of Session, except where an appeal lies to the High Court on a substantial question of law. Sub-section (5) mandates that all appeals must be disposed of expeditiously within thirty days, ensuring that juvenile custody disputes and bail denials are adjudicated with utmost urgency.
Section 101 provides a streamlined appellate mechanism tailored to juvenile justice. By requiring appeals to be decided within thirty days and vesting appellate power in the Children's Court or Sessions Court, the statute creates an accessible forum to challenge erroneous bail rejections, age determination rulings, or institutional placement orders.