Juvenile Justice System in India
A recent study by the India Justice Report (IJR) titled ‘Juvenile Justice and Children in Conflict with the Law: A Study of Capacity at the Frontlines’ highlights significant challenges in the juvenile justice system in India, focusing on the functioning of Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs).
Current Status of Juvenile Justice Boards
- 55% of cases before 362 JJBs remained pending as of October 31, 2023.
- 92% of India's 765 districts have established JJBs.
- Pendency rates vary markedly from 83% in Odisha to 35% in Karnataka.
- Less than half of the 1,00,904 cases have been disposed of by JJBs.
Challenges and Systemic Gaps
- 24% of JJBs are not fully constituted, leading to high workloads.
- 30% of JJBs lack an attached legal services clinic, affecting legal aid provision.
- Inadequate data monitoring and funds impede the implementation of juvenile justice.
- System suffers from lack of inter-agency coordination and data-sharing.
Data on Juvenile Cases
- According to 2023 Crime in India data, 40,036 juveniles were apprehended in 31,365 cases.
- More than 75% of the juveniles involved were aged between 16 and 18 years.
Study Findings and Recommendations
- The IJR study created 16 questions to assess the system's capacity, covering 530 districts.
- Out of 500 responses received, 11% were rejected, 24% received no reply, 29% were transferred, and 36% were answered by State nodal authorities.
- Maja Daruwala emphasized the need for routine data flow and transparent supervision.
- Justice Madan B. Lokur stressed the importance of a child-centric National Data Grid for integrated information.
The study underscores the necessity for a centralized information repository to enhance transparency and effectiveness in serving the best interests of children in conflict with the law.