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Section 51: Fit facility

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide

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Act 2015
Section 50 All 112 Sections of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 Section 52

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 51

Section 51 of the Act regulates fit facilities, authorizing the Board or the Committee to recognize and approve specialized hospitals, nursing homes, or rehabilitation centers run by voluntary organizations as fit facilities for child placement.

  • Recognition of Specialized Care Centers: Empowers the JJB and CWC to designate specialized healthcare, psychiatric, or disability care institutions as 'fit facilities' to house children with unique medical or physical needs.
  • Mandatory Vetting & Background Verification: Requires the DCPU to verify the medical credentials, nursing ratios, and physical security of the facility before the Committee grants recognition.
  • Temporary or Term-Specific Placement: Authorizes the placement of a child suffering from chronic ailments or mental illness in a fit facility for the duration of medical treatment.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • Sampurna Behura v. Union of India (2018) 4 SCC 433: Supreme Court affirmed that fit facilities provide specialized therapeutic care that standard shelter homes cannot offer, directing expansion of approved facility rosters.
  • In Re: Exploitation of Children in Orphanages (2017) 7 SCC 578: Affirmed that all fit facilities must be strictly registered and inspected under the JJ Act.
  • Sheela Barse v. Union of India (1986) 3 SCC 596: Affirmed that children with specialized medical needs must be placed in certified clinical facilities.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

When representing a child with autism, intellectual disabilities, or chronic medical conditions, petition the CWC under Section 51 for placement in an accredited psychiatric or therapeutic fit facility rather than a general Children's Home.

Section 50 All 112 Sections of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 Section 52