Question : JUVENILE CRIME

(a) whether cases of crime/cognizable crime committed by juveniles are on the rise in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the total number of such cases reported and the action taken against the guilty, cases solved/unsolved, juveniles convicted and the steps taken to improve the conviction rate along with the steps taken to solve all the cases during each of the last three years and the current year, State and crime-wise;

(c) the reasons identified by the Government behind the increase in involvement of juveniles in such crimes; and

(d) the details of the corrective steps taken by the Government to check such crimes in future along with the advisories issued to the States and Police departments in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HARIBHAI PARTHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a) and (b) As per information provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) a total of 27,962, 31,973 and 35,861 cases under IPC and Special & Local Laws were reported where juveniles were in conflict with law during 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively indicating a rising trend. The State/UT wise number of juveniles in conflict with law and disposal of juvenile arrested under IPC & SLL Crimes and sent to courts during 2011-2013 is enclosed at Annexure – I.

(c) The increase in number of crimes can be attributed to several measures taken by the Union Government along with State Govern- ments / Union Territory Administrations to enforce mandatory registration of offences by police.

(d) 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/juvenile in conflict with law. The Ministry of Home Affairs has not issued any advisory specifically with respect to crime by juveniles.