Lok Sabha Question No. 158 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-02
Subject: Crime by Juveniles
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: PRATHAP SIMHA, SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.158

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2018

## CRIME BY JUVENILES

158. SHRI PRATAP SIMHA: KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:
2. (a) whether it is a fact that instances of crimes committed by juveniles/minors are on the rise in the country, especially in urban parts of the country, as reported by NCRB and if so, the details thereof;
3. (b) whether  the  Juvenile  Justice  (Care  and  Protection  of  Children)  Act,  2015  (JJ  Act)  has been  enacted  by  repealing  the  Juvenile  Justice  (Care  and  Protection  of  Children)  Act, 2000 to make comprehensive provisions for children alleged and found to be in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection; and
4. (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

- (a) As  reported  by  National  Crime  Record  Bureau  (NCRB),  the  new  cases  of    juveniles apprehended during the year 2014, 2015 and 2016 are 48228, 41385, 44171 respectively, showing  a  mixed  trend  with  a  decline  of  14%  in  2015  over  2014  and  an  increase  of 6.73% in 2016 over 2015.
- (b)       & (c) The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act) has  been enacted by repealing the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 to make comprehensive provisions for children alleged and found to be in conflict with law and  children  in  need  of  care  and  protection,  taking  into  consideration  the  standards prescribed  in  the  Convention  on  the  Rights  of  the  Child,  the  United  Nations  Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice, 1985 (the Beijing Rules), the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty(1990), the Hague  Convention  on  Protection  of  Children  and  Co-operation  in  Respect  of  Inter country Adoption (1993), and other related international instruments.

The revised Act has come into effect from 15.01.2016. The new 'JJ Act' includes special provisions to address heinous offences committed by children above the age of 16 years.  For the first time, offences have been clearly defined and classified in the Act as petty, serious and heinous. Special provisions have been made to tackle child offenders committing  heinous  offences  in  the  age  group  of  16-18  years,  which  will  act  as  a deterrent. Apart from this the JJ Act, focuses on various measures for rehabilitation and reintegration  of  children  in  difficult  circumstances,  including  children  in  conflict  with law. The JJ Act and the Central Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model

Rules, 2016 thereunder, provide for setting up of a network of services and structures for ensuring  the  well  being  and  rehabilitation  of  such  children  which  includes  Juvenile Justice Boards, Special Juvenile Police Units, State and District Child Protection Units, Homes  of  various  types  and  non-institutional  care  through  adoption,  foster-care  and sponsorship. These measures among other things also intend main streaming of children in conflict with law and there by reducing crimes by the minors. The State Governments/UT  Administrations  are  entrusted  with  the  primary  responsibility  for implementation of the JJ Act.

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