Archive · 23 Nov 2025
India's Juvenile Justice System Fails Children
A study found that India's juvenile justice system is not working well.
Many children are waiting a long time for their cases to be heard, and some important parts of the system are missing or not working properly.
This means children are not getting the help and protection they need.
Over 50,000 children await justice, with 55% of cases pending
24% of Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) lack full benches
14 states lack 'Places of Safety' for accused children aged 16-18
30% of JJBs lack attached legal services clinics
80% of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) lack medical staff or doctors
- Who
- Children in conflict with the law in India
- What
- Are facing delays and inadequate support in the juvenile justice system
- When
- As of October 31, 2023
- Where
- In various states and union territories across India
- Why
- Due to structural deficits, high pendency, and opaque data in the system
Activists and Experts
Government Officials
Systemic failures
Activists and Experts
Activists and experts argue that the system is failing children due to structural deficits and high pendency.
Government Officials
Government officials may attribute the issues to lack of resources and manpower.
Data transparency
Activists and Experts
Activists push for better data transparency to hold the system accountable.
Government Officials
Government officials might cite challenges in data collection and management.
- Total pending cases
- Over 50,000
- Percentage of pending cases
- 55%
- JJBs without full benches
- 24%
- States without 'Places of Safety'
- 14
- JJBs without legal services clinics
- 30%
- CCIs without medical staff or doctors
- 80%