A child in need of care and protection under the JJ Act is a child who either does not have a guardian or whose guardian is incapable of taking care of the child, the Court explained.
Lawyer Abir Phukan, appearing for Menon, a former news agency journalist, said the plea has been filed for rehabilitation of children who are "mentally ill or mentally or physically challenged or suffering from terminal or incurable disease, having no one to support or look after or having parents or guardians unfit to take care".