HIGH PENDENCY & STAFFING GAPS IN JUVENILE JUSTICE BOARDS

Why in the News ?

A first-of-its-kind study by the India Justice Report (IJR) reveals that over 55% of cases before India’s Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) were pending as of October 31, 2023, exposing deep gaps in staffing, infrastructure, data systems, and inter-agency coordination.

The findings are based on 250+ RTI replies from 21 States, showing that JJBs have disposed of less than half of the 1,00,904 cases filed before them.

Status of Juvenile Justice Boards in India

• 92% of India’s 765 districts have constituted Juvenile Justice Boards.
• Pendency remains critically high, with wide inter-state variation:
  • Odisha – 83% pendency
  • Karnataka – 35% pendency
  • National Average – 55%
• 24% of JJBs are not fully constituted.
• 30% lack an attached legal services clinic, essential for child-centric justice.

Findings from the India Justice Report

1. High Pendency & Workload

• Each JJB handled an average of 154 pending cases annually.
• Highlights mismatch between caseload vs. institutional capacity.

2. Staffing & Infrastructure Gaps

• Major vacancies in positions of social workers & support staff.
• Insufficient funds for training and capacity building.
• Lack of child-friendly infrastructure in several districts.

3. Poor Data Systems & Transparency

• No national data repository exists—unlike NJDG (National Judicial Data Grid).
• RTI findings:
  • 11% replies rejected outright
  • 24% received no response
  • Only 36% provided complete information

4. High Number of Juveniles Apprehended

• 40,036 juveniles apprehended in 31,365 cases.
• Over 75% were in the 16–18 years category—showing rise in older adolescents entering the justice system.

Structural Gaps in the Juvenile Justice Architecture

1. Weak Inter-Agency Coordination

The four nodal agencies often operate in silos:

• Police
• Department of Women & Child Development
• State Child Protection Society (SCPS)
• State Legal Services Authority (SLSA)

500+ RTI applications across 28 States & 2 UTs show fragmented, inconsistent data.

2. Inadequate Legal Support

• 30% of JJBs lack legal aid clinics.
• Many children face the system without proper defence, violating child-centric principles of JJ Act, 2015.

3. Vacancies in Child Care Institutions

• Persistent shortage of counselors, probation officers, and rehabilitation staff.
• Hampers reintegration & long-term rehabilitation.

Way Forward

Experts recommend:

• Creation of a National Juvenile Justice Data Grid
• Filling vacancies across JJBs and Child Care Institutions
• Ensuring universal legal aid availability in all districts
• Strengthening inter-agency data sharing mechanisms
• Increasing funding for child protection & training
• Regular monitoring & public reporting of JJB performance

These reforms are vital for ensuring fair, timely, and child-friendly justice for children in conflict with the law.