Children in Conflict with Law in India: Why Rehabilitation Must Matter as Much as Punishment

Editor’s Note:
This article is part of TheNews21 Policy Analysis series examining governance, law and institutional reforms in India.

Praveen Dixit
(www.praveendixit.com)

Recently, seven Class X students of a hostel run by the Maharashtra Social Welfare Department in Igatpuri in Nashik district were booked for sexually abusing their juniors. These students are accused of giving sedatives to those from Class V–VII staying in the same hostel and then indulging in unnatural acts. Though the victims had informed the hostel superintendent, he took no cognisance. Therefore, he was also booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

In a separate incident at a Gurukul in Bellari, Karnataka, a boy in Class IX took a bed-rod and attacked several sleeping students, killing one of them.

Why do children behave in such criminal and heinous ways? What are the legal provisions to tackle this sensitive issue? What needs to be done to rehabilitate these juveniles? How can society reintegrate them and provide them with a chance to reform? I propose to discuss these issues in the following lines.

Memories of horrible incidents such as the Nirbhaya episode in Delhi are never forgotten. Unfortunately, similarly terrible incidents are being reported from both urban and rural areas across all states. In some cases, gang rapes are committed against helpless victims, including disabled girls, destitute children, or girls belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In other cases, victims are deceived by false identities.

In some instances, children are unable to narrate what happened but complain of severe body or stomach pain. In many cases, videos of such crimes are recorded, and if the victim survives, she is repeatedly blackmailed and abused.

Very often, the perpetrator is a grandfather, stepfather, cousin, relative, or someone known to the family. Offenders may also include security guards, housekeeping staff in housing societies or schools, cleaners, drivers, or conductors in school buses.

If the victim refuses to marry the accused or threatens to reveal his identity, she may even be murdered and her body disposed of in remote locations beyond recognition.

Such offences against children are dealt with under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. If a guardian knowingly fails to report such offences to the police, he or she is also liable under POCSO.

A section of these crimes is committed by juveniles aged 16–18 and even younger. Offences committed by juveniles include robbery, snatching, molestation, rape, gang rape, theft, attempted murder, and murder. Recently, juveniles have also been involved in cybercrimes, including hoax calls and threatening emails to schools and authorities.

Separately, hit-and-run incidents involving drunk driving by juveniles from affluent families are also being reported, resulting in the deaths of innocent pedestrians or two-wheeler riders.

In some left-wing extremist affected areas in Dandakaranya, young persons have been forced to join Naxalite groups.

Also Read : Preventing Minor Girls from Running Away: A Policy Perspective

Legal Framework

Such incidents often trigger public outrage, and the media demands explanations from law-enforcement agencies and governments. Public anger sometimes goes to the extent of demanding immediate hanging of the accused—even when the suspect is a juvenile.

Data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) indicates an increasing number of crimes involving juveniles aged 16–18.

According to the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA), 2015, any person below the age of 18 is considered a juvenile. However, juveniles aged 16–18 may be tried as adults in cases of heinous crimes, defined as offences punishable with imprisonment of more than seven years.

The decision on whether a crime qualifies as heinous is taken by the Juvenile Justice Board, consisting of a Judicial Magistrate First Class and two social workers, one of whom must be a woman.

The objective of the Act is to ensure that children’s needs are protected and their human rights are safeguarded. It also provides for the care, protection, and rehabilitation of children in need.

Protection includes safeguarding children from harm—even from parents or relatives. Victims should not be subjected to repeated appearances before multiple authorities.

While legal provisions exist to deter offenders, effective and impartial implementation by all agencies is essential.

Probable Reasons Contributing to Juvenile Delinquency

Several factors contribute to children coming into conflict with the law.

These include:

• Lack of parental care and affection
• Broken or dysfunctional families
• Poverty and large families
• Lack of educational opportunities

Urbanisation and easy internet access expose children to inappropriate content, including pornography, violent games, and harmful online communities.

Social media platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and others sometimes attract young minds towards the darknet, spreading misinformation, radicalisation, and risky financial activities like cryptocurrency scams.

Several countries have already taken steps to address this.

Australia banned social media access for children under 16 in December 2025. Some European countries and Indonesia are considering similar restrictions.

On 6 March 2026, the Karnataka Chief Minister announced a proposal to ban social media access for children under 16. Andhra Pradesh is also considering restrictions for children under 13.

However, experts argue that a coordinated national policy is necessary, combining platform safeguards with digital literacy.

Parental awareness and reducing screen time remain critical.

Children from red-light districts, dysfunctional families, or communities affected by drugs and alcohol often fall into bad company.

Adolescents seeking approval from peers may commit crimes to impress friends or sustain lifestyle aspirations influenced by social media.

According to Prof. Vishnu Vairagade, Assistant Professor of Sociology in Pune:

“Creating an ‘identity’ and the commodification of masculinity are among the reasons behind increasing juvenile crime.”

Young people exposed to new consumption patterns—fashion, entertainment, social media—often lack legitimate opportunities to achieve their aspirations, leading to anomie, a condition where individuals deviate from established norms.

Role of Police in Rehabilitation

Police officers must remain sensitive when dealing with children in conflict with law.

While serving as Commissioner of Police, Nagpur, I ensured counselling for such juveniles through social workers.

Those eligible were sent back to school, while others received vocational training such as driving. Many of them later became responsible individuals contributing to their families.

Police officers must also protect juveniles from exploitation by adult criminals and work closely with:

• NGOs
• Child psychiatrists
• Child guidance clinics
• Probation officers

Regular visits to shelter homes and remand homes are necessary to ensure proper support and security.

Recommendations by UNICEF

UNICEF’s working group on Rights of Children in Conflict with the Law (2007) recommends diversion programmes including:

• Victim-offender mediation
• Admonition
• Community correction councils
• Joint family meetings
• Circle trials
• Juvenile courts
• Community service

These measures aim to rehabilitate juveniles and reintegrate them into society without a permanent criminal record.

Recommendations by NHRC

A high-level group constituted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in February 2025 suggested:

• A portal for cases involving children in conflict with law (without revealing identities)
• Dedicated child protection cadres in states
• Social audits of child care institutions
• Strengthening legal aid mechanisms
• Increasing community service measures
• Improving rehabilitation programmes
• Joint training for stakeholders

Conclusion

Heinous crimes committed by children pose a serious challenge. While legislative measures exist, rehabilitation remains equally important.

A holistic approach combining enforcement, compassion, and proactive intervention is essential.

Administrative officials, police officers, judicial bodies, NGOs, civil society organisations, and the media must work together to reintegrate children in conflict with law and prevent them from entering a cycle of crime.

(Praveen Dixit is a former Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra and a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer with extensive experience in policing, internal security, and public administration. During his career, he served in several key positions including Commissioner of Police, Nagpur, and Director General of Police, Maharashtra. He has been actively involved in policy discussions on policing reforms, juvenile justice, internal security, and governance. Dixit also contributes articles and analysis on law enforcement and public policy issues.)

Editor’s Note:
This article is part of TheNews21 Policy Analysis series examining governance, law and institutional reforms in India.

Praveen Dixit
(www.praveendixit.com)

Recently, seven Class X students of a hostel run by the Maharashtra Social Welfare Department in Igatpuri in Nashik district were booked for sexually abusing their juniors. These students are accused of giving sedatives to those from Class V–VII staying in the same hostel and then indulging in unnatural acts. Though the victims had informed the hostel superintendent, he took no cognisance. Therefore, he was also booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

In a separate incident at a Gurukul in Bellari, Karnataka, a boy in Class IX took a bed-rod and attacked several sleeping students, killing one of them.

Why do children behave in such criminal and heinous ways? What are the legal provisions to tackle this sensitive issue? What needs to be done to rehabilitate these juveniles? How can society reintegrate them and provide them with a chance to reform? I propose to discuss these issues in the following lines.

Memories of horrible incidents such as the Nirbhaya episode in Delhi are never forgotten. Unfortunately, similarly terrible incidents are being reported from both urban and rural areas across all states. In some cases, gang rapes are committed against helpless victims, including disabled girls, destitute children, or girls belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In other cases, victims are deceived by false identities.

In some instances, children are unable to narrate what happened but complain of severe body or stomach pain. In many cases, videos of such crimes are recorded, and if the victim survives, she is repeatedly blackmailed and abused.

Very often, the perpetrator is a grandfather, stepfather, cousin, relative, or someone known to the family. Offenders may also include security guards, housekeeping staff in housing societies or schools, cleaners, drivers, or conductors in school buses.

If the victim refuses to marry the accused or threatens to reveal his identity, she may even be murdered and her body disposed of in remote locations beyond recognition.

Such offences against children are dealt with under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. If a guardian knowingly fails to report such offences to the police, he or she is also liable under POCSO.

A section of these crimes is committed by juveniles aged 16–18 and even younger. Offences committed by juveniles include robbery, snatching, molestation, rape, gang rape, theft, attempted murder, and murder. Recently, juveniles have also been involved in cybercrimes, including hoax calls and threatening emails to schools and authorities.

Separately, hit-and-run incidents involving drunk driving by juveniles from affluent families are also being reported, resulting in the deaths of innocent pedestrians or two-wheeler riders.

In some left-wing extremist affected areas in Dandakaranya, young persons have been forced to join Naxalite groups.

Also Read : Preventing Minor Girls from Running Away: A Policy Perspective

Legal Framework

Such incidents often trigger public outrage, and the media demands explanations from law-enforcement agencies and governments. Public anger sometimes goes to the extent of demanding immediate hanging of the accused—even when the suspect is a juvenile.

Data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) indicates an increasing number of crimes involving juveniles aged 16–18.

According to the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA), 2015, any person below the age of 18 is considered a juvenile. However, juveniles aged 16–18 may be tried as adults in cases of heinous crimes, defined as offences punishable with imprisonment of more than seven years.

The decision on whether a crime qualifies as heinous is taken by the Juvenile Justice Board, consisting of a Judicial Magistrate First Class and two social workers, one of whom must be a woman.

The objective of the Act is to ensure that children’s needs are protected and their human rights are safeguarded. It also provides for the care, protection, and rehabilitation of children in need.

Protection includes safeguarding children from harm—even from parents or relatives. Victims should not be subjected to repeated appearances before multiple authorities.

While legal provisions exist to deter offenders, effective and impartial implementation by all agencies is essential.

Probable Reasons Contributing to Juvenile Delinquency

Several factors contribute to children coming into conflict with the law.

These include:

• Lack of parental care and affection
• Broken or dysfunctional families
• Poverty and large families
• Lack of educational opportunities

Urbanisation and easy internet access expose children to inappropriate content, including pornography, violent games, and harmful online communities.

Social media platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and others sometimes attract young minds towards the darknet, spreading misinformation, radicalisation, and risky financial activities like cryptocurrency scams.

Several countries have already taken steps to address this.

Australia banned social media access for children under 16 in December 2025. Some European countries and Indonesia are considering similar restrictions.

On 6 March 2026, the Karnataka Chief Minister announced a proposal to ban social media access for children under 16. Andhra Pradesh is also considering restrictions for children under 13.

However, experts argue that a coordinated national policy is necessary, combining platform safeguards with digital literacy.

Parental awareness and reducing screen time remain critical.

Children from red-light districts, dysfunctional families, or communities affected by drugs and alcohol often fall into bad company.

Adolescents seeking approval from peers may commit crimes to impress friends or sustain lifestyle aspirations influenced by social media.

According to Prof. Vishnu Vairagade, Assistant Professor of Sociology in Pune:

“Creating an ‘identity’ and the commodification of masculinity are among the reasons behind increasing juvenile crime.”

Young people exposed to new consumption patterns—fashion, entertainment, social media—often lack legitimate opportunities to achieve their aspirations, leading to anomie, a condition where individuals deviate from established norms.

Role of Police in Rehabilitation

Police officers must remain sensitive when dealing with children in conflict with law.

While serving as Commissioner of Police, Nagpur, I ensured counselling for such juveniles through social workers.

Those eligible were sent back to school, while others received vocational training such as driving. Many of them later became responsible individuals contributing to their families.

Police officers must also protect juveniles from exploitation by adult criminals and work closely with:

• NGOs
• Child psychiatrists
• Child guidance clinics
• Probation officers

Regular visits to shelter homes and remand homes are necessary to ensure proper support and security.

Recommendations by UNICEF

UNICEF’s working group on Rights of Children in Conflict with the Law (2007) recommends diversion programmes including:

• Victim-offender mediation
• Admonition
• Community correction councils
• Joint family meetings
• Circle trials
• Juvenile courts
• Community service

These measures aim to rehabilitate juveniles and reintegrate them into society without a permanent criminal record.

Recommendations by NHRC

A high-level group constituted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in February 2025 suggested:

• A portal for cases involving children in conflict with law (without revealing identities)
• Dedicated child protection cadres in states
• Social audits of child care institutions
• Strengthening legal aid mechanisms
• Increasing community service measures
• Improving rehabilitation programmes
• Joint training for stakeholders

Conclusion

Heinous crimes committed by children pose a serious challenge. While legislative measures exist, rehabilitation remains equally important.

A holistic approach combining enforcement, compassion, and proactive intervention is essential.

Administrative officials, police officers, judicial bodies, NGOs, civil society organisations, and the media must work together to reintegrate children in conflict with law and prevent them from entering a cycle of crime.

(Praveen Dixit is a former Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra and a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer with extensive experience in policing, internal security, and public administration. During his career, he served in several key positions including Commissioner of Police, Nagpur, and Director General of Police, Maharashtra. He has been actively involved in policy discussions on policing reforms, juvenile justice, internal security, and governance. Dixit also contributes articles and analysis on law enforcement and public policy issues.)