No. of juveniles nabbed rose by 6.7% in ’16

The increase in the number of juveniles apprehended in 2016 compared to the year before has come as a cause for concern for the authorities. 

The Minister of State for Women and Child Development is pushing for various measures be taken to bring into the mainstream these children in conflict with law. In 2016, there was a 6.73 per cent rise in the apprehension rate of juveniles compared to 2015, the year which saw a dip in arrests of juveniles from 2014.

The Minister of State for Women and Child Development Virendra Kumar, in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, said a total of 1,33,784 cases of juveniles apprehended were reported during 2014-2016. 

The minister further stated that as per National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), the new cases of juveniles apprehended during 2014, 2015 and 2016 are 48,228, 41,385, 44,171 respectively.

It shows a mixed trend with a decline of 14 per cent in 2015 from 2014 and an increase of 6.73 per cent in 2016 over 2015.

The minister also stated that the new Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 includes special provisions to address heinous offences committed by teenagers above the age of 16.