New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has requested responses from the Lieutenant Governor and the Delhi Police concerning a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding that every Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) in each district of Delhi be fully staffed as mandated by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The PIL also seeks an updated status report from the Delhi Police regarding the composition of these units after filling any vacancies.
The bench, consisting of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, has scheduled the hearing for April 30, 2025. The petition, submitted by Alpha Phiris Dayal through advocate Robin Raju, asserts that many of Delhi’s SJPUs are not operating according to the guidelines set forth in Section 107 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
The plea emphasizes the judiciary’s ongoing commitment to prioritizing the needs of vulnerable populations, especially children, citing various rulings by the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court. It references the enactment of significant legislation, including the Juvenile Justice Act (2000), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (2012), and amendments to the Child Labour Act (2016), which were responses to the increasing instances of child abuse since the 1990s. The Juvenile Justice Act was amended in 2015, with Model Rules established in 2016, highlighting the need to protect and care for children.
As part of this framework, the State Government is mandated to create a Child Protection Society at the state level and a Child Protection Unit in each district under Section 106, while Section 107 focuses on appointing Child Welfare Police Officers and forming SJPUs.
According to the petition, many SJPU units in Delhi lack the necessary staff required by the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. The petitioner submitted a Right to Information (RTI) application to the Delhi Police, which revealed that two districts’ SJPUs were not functioning effectively in accordance with the Act. The SJPUs are essential for addressing children’s issues, ensuring compliance with the JJ Act, and coordinating with various agencies for the welfare and rehabilitation of children.
The significance of SJPUs is underscored by a rise in crimes against minors and data indicating that participation of minors in criminal activities has increased. The petitioner filed an RTI application on November 7, 2024, receiving responses from different districts that highlighted deficiencies in SJPU operations. For example, the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the South District reported no dedicated police personnel or social workers available at their SJPU, while the PIO of New Delhi District mentioned the absence of social workers. Additionally, the PIO of North-East District noted that the welfare officer stationed there had been transferred in February 2023.