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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delih's juvenile homes pushed to brink with rise in crime by teens
In Kingsway Camp in north Delhi, over 100 minors are currently packed into a nondescript facility designed to house just 60 children in conflict with the law (CCLs). Every few days, police vans back up to its entrance, dropping off more boys — many of them accused of serious, sometimes violent crimes. With no place else to send them, the home simply swells beyond capacity. Overcrowding has become routine at homes housing undertrial juvenile boys across the Capital, and officials say it mirrors a sharp and sustained spike in juvenile crime. Data from the Women and Child Development (WCD) department shows that Delhi has eight homes for children in conflict with the law. Of those, five have the combined capacity to house a total of 285 boys facing trial, as of May 5, data shows. A total of 421 boys were housed in these five facilities, which together have a sanctioned capacity of only 285. Just two years ago, in May 2023, the number stood at 199 — meaning the homes were operating at roughly 70% capacity. In less than 24 months, the population has more than doubled, pushing the system to its limits. These include the Observation Home for Boys at Delhi Gate, which houses boys up to the age of 16 and has a sanctioned capacity of 75 but was home to 82 minors as of May 5. In Kingsway Camp, two Observation Homes for boys between the ages of 16 and 18 are supposed to hold 50 each — but both were housing 75. The 'Place of Safety' in Majnu ka Tilla, which is meant for older CCLs aged 16 to 18 undergoing inquiries for heinous offences and those who were caught after turning 18 for crimes committed earlier, was built to hold 60, but currently houses 110. In the same area, SPYM at Sewa Kutir in Kingsway Camp, a facility meant to provide de-addiction treatment for drug-addicted minors, was built for 50 but currently houses 79. To be sure, the remaining three facilities – one for minors convicted of crimes, and two for girls – are relatively empty. Only 21, out of the sanctioned strength of 110 in these are occupied. 'Special Home' in Majnu ka Tilla, which is meant for those found guilty and sentenced under the Juvenile Justice Act, has a sanctioned strength of 60 but housed only 16 boys. Two Observation Homes for Girls in the Nirmal Chhaya Complex on Jail Road — with capacities of 30 and 20 respectively — housed only five girls in total, the data shows. Behind the over occupation at undertrial facilities for boys is an unmistakable rise in violent offences involving minors. Police officials said that while children have long been involved in petty crime — such as pickpocketing or small-time theft — the last two years have seen a rise in brutal offences, including murder, armed robbery and gang violence. At least 20 murders involving juveniles were reported in the first three months of 2025 alone. Police sources say the pattern first emerged in early 2023 and has escalated since. 'It's hard to say exactly why so many boys are now involved in heinous crimes,' said a senior police inspector who works on gang-related cases. 'But there's no doubt gangsters like Hashim Baba and Lawrence Bishnoi are recruiting them. They know the law will be lenient. A minor who commits murder could be out in a matter of weeks or months. That's what they exploit.' Inside the homes, this change in the profile of offenders has brought new challenges. Anil Kumar, a retired WCD superintendent who managed three observation homes until 2020, said the lack of space has forced staff to get creative — sometimes using classrooms and teachers' lounges to lay out mattresses. But more than space, he said, it's the mindset of these minors that worries him. 'The boys who come in for murder — many of them have no interest in reform. They've already decided they'll go back to the gang. Classes don't help. Counselling doesn't work. And then there's the added danger of rival gang members being lodged in the same facility,' Kumar said. 'In those cases, we try to separate them. We get court permission to transfer one of them to another home or ensure they never meet — not during meals, not during recreation, not in the corridors.' The threat isn't limited to juvenile rivalries. Officials themselves have become targets. A current WCD official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, 'Some of us have been attacked — with improvised weapons, kitchen knives, even hot dal. The worst we're allowed to do in return is put the child in isolation for a few hours.' Child rights activist Bharti Ali, who was earlier associated with Delhi based NGO HAQ Centre for Child Rights, said that juvenile homes are 'worse than prisons' and that one of the reasons of overcrowding is that the minors are not getting released on bail. 'The staff in juvenile homes is not enough for those lodged there. They are also not motivated enough because they are contractual employees. They do more of administrative work than actual reformation. The boys just while away their time without actually undergoing any real change,' she said. Kumar said the only real solution is to build more facilities. 'The government is already spending a lot on these boys — their food, clothes, education, vocational training, medical needs. In many cases, they live better here than at home. Then why not build more homes? At least then there wouldn't be so much overcrowding.' Even for the minors, the experience of being inside is not necessarily seen as punishment. A 17-year-old boy from northeast Delhi's Jafrabad who spent three months in one of the homes earlier this year after allegedly attempting to kill a 25-year-old man said he never once thought of it as jail. 'It was a badge of honour,' he said. 'I made friends — contacts. We still keep in touch. Sometimes there were classes, sometimes not. No one really cared. We mostly just played outside all day.'
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Time of India
Teen DJ killed in revenge attack, 4 minors detained
New Delhi: A dispute over DJ arrangements turned deadly in northwest Delhi's Mahendra Park on Saturday after a group of boys allegedly stabbed an 18-year-old to death following an argument with one of them the previous day. According to police, information about a stabbing was received at the Mahendra Park police station around 8.15 pm on May 17. "A police team was immediately dispatched to BJRM Hospital, where a youth, identified as Bheem Sen, was admitted with stab injuries by his friend," said a senior police officer. "Upon reaching the hospital, it was found that the victim sustained two stab wounds and was undergoing treatment," he added. Despite medical efforts, Sen—a resident of Village Badhola in northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri—succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead shortly after admission. A case under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at Mahendra Park police station, and an investigation was launched. Crime scene and forensic experts were called in to collect evidence. Initial findings revealed that Sen had been approached by one of the accused—believed to be a juvenile—for a DJ booking at a small local event. "There was some argument between them over the DJ arrangements and the booking, following which the juvenile conspired and planned to seek revenge. He, along with three of his friends, allegedly planned and executed the attack," the officer said. On May 17, the group confronted Bheem and stabbed him during a scuffle. All four accused have since been apprehended. "They are being processed as Children in Conflict with Law (CCLs), and their exact age is being verified," the officer added. Police said efforts are underway to recover the weapon used in the crime. Further investigation is ongoing.
New Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delhi HC seeks replies on PIL over delay in Juvenile Justice Boards cases
During the hearing, the Chief Justice reminded the Delhi Government's lawyer that, under the structure of the JJ Act, it is the State Government's responsibility to ensure that the law is properly implemented. He also pointed out that the setting up and disbanding of JJBs, along with their overall functioning, falls under the State's control. The petition seeks the full and proper enforcement of the JJ Act, especially to protect the rights of children accused of offences, legally known as Children in Conflict with Law (CCLs). The law sets clear timelines for completing inquiries by the JJBs, and the plea argues that these deadlines are often not met. 'The petition had to be filed because these timelines are being badly ignored,' the plea states, adding that this leads to serious injustice and violates children's rights to a fair and timely trial under Article 21 of the Constitution and the JJ Act itself. The petition says such delay defeats the main purpose of the law, which is to ensure quick rehabilitation and reintegration of such children into society. The plea also asks the Court to direct Chief Judicial Magistrates and Chief Metropolitan Magistrates to review the case backlogs in the JJBs every three months, as required by Section 16(1) of the Act, and to submit reports to the High Court. It further urges the Court to instruct JJBs to publicly share case pendency figures every quarter on a website, and to take steps to include the JJBs in the National Judicial Data Grid.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Time of India
Presence of teen driver in Porsche crash among minors sought for counselling session at new JJB centre
Pune: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) has urged the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in the city to secure on 'voluntary basis' the presence of the teenage driver involved in last year's Porsche Taycan car crash, along with minors out on bail in other crimes, for a session on May 5 at a newly opened child-friendly counselling centre on JJB premises in Yerawada. Principal district and sessions judge Mahendra Mahajan, who is also the DLSA chairman, inaugurated the new centre on April 28 — a joint initiative of DLSA, Women And Child Development Department, and Hope For The Children Foundation. "The centre aims to secure a new opportunity for children in conflict with law (CCL) below 18 years, reshape their lives and hopes and develop them into strong, capable, and responsible citizens," Mahajan said in a statement. "The counselling centre will provide a safe, reliable, and understanding platform for these children," Mahajan said, stressing on the need for addressing the emotional and mental needs of children at the root. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like CFD's: Investing $200 in Emaar Malls can give you a second income TradeLG Undo Sonal Patil, the DLSA secretary said, "Continuous counselling will help CCLs to achieve a strong mental health and inspire them to become responsible citizens in future. CCLs at times don't understand the consequences of crime; we would be referring them to a series of experts to bring them into the mainstream competition and apprise them of govt schemes, vocational training, and skill development courses meant for their welfare and rehabilitation so that they give up crime." Additional JJB-2 sanctioned to expedite trial against minors The state govt has sanctioned an additional JJB-2 at Yerawada to help the existing JJB-1 expedite the trial of more than 4,931 cases from Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, and Pune rural areas. Pune district and sessions court had submitted a proposal regarding this in 2024 to reduce the case load on the existing board. The Bombay high court on April 24 communicated to the district court that it has cleared the proposal and the state govt too has cleared the same. The JJB-2 will comprise of a woman judicial officer and two nominated members and other staffers and is expected to become functional in a couple of months. Nearly 2,600 cases would be transferred to the additional JJB to expedite trial against the minors. |
