LINGALA VIJAYAKUMAR & ORS. vs PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, ANDHRA PRADESH

The Supreme Court addressed the treatment of juvenile offenders under the Saurashtra Children Act, emphasizing that children should not be treated as non-persons and must be separated from adult prisoners. The Court highlighted the need for correctional treatment with a rehabilitative focus, aligning with Article 19 of the Constitution, which allows for deprivation of freedoms only if it serves social defense and public order. The Court directed that the appellants be provided opportunities for self-improvement and education to facilitate their reintegration into society, thereby rejecting punitive measures that inflict inhumanity.