Lok Sabha Question No. 237 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-04
Subject: Increase in Juvenile Crimes
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ravindra Kushawaha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 237

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 04 TH  FEBRUARY, 2020/ MAGHA 15, 1941 (SAKA)

INCREASE IN JUVENILE CRIMES

†237.     SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether there has been an increase in juvenile crimes in recent years;

(b) if so, the number of juvenile crimes reported during each of the last five years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) the number of guilty criminals found subjected to legal action;

(d)  whether  any  effective  measures  have  been  taken/will  be  taken  by  the Government to curb juvenile crimes; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b): National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  compiles  and  publishes information on crime in its publication 'Crime in India'. The published reports are available  till  the  year  2018.  State/UT-wise  details  of  cases  reported  against juveniles and juveniles apprehended under Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL) Crimes during 2016-2018 are at Annexure-I.

(c) State/UT-wise  details  of  juveniles  sent  home  after  advice  or  admonition, juveniles  sent  to  Special  Home  or  Fit  Institute,  juveniles  dealt  with fine and juveniles acquitted or discharged under IPC and SLL Crimes during 2016-2018 are also at Annexure-I.

## LS.US.Q.NO. 237 FOR 04.02.2020

(d) & (e): 'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the  Seventh Schedule  to  the  Constitution  of  India.  The  responsibilities  to  maintain  law  and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including children rest with the respective State Governments. The State Governments are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws.

Further,  the  issue  of  crime  by  juveniles  is  mainly  dealt  through  Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 which provides for reformative care in case of children/juveniles in conflict with law. The Ministry of Women and Child  Development  is  implementing  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme,  namely, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) for rehabilitation and reintegration of children in difficult circumstances. 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.

## LS.US.Q.NO. 237 FOR 04.02.2020

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. 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. 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.  The  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  are  entrusted  with  the primary responsibility for implementation of the JJ Act.

Under the Integrated Child Protection Schemes (ICPS), there is a provision of counselor in Observation  Homes.  These  counselors provide counseling services  to  children  in  conflict  with  law  and  children  in  need  of  care  and protection as well as for their parents and families.

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