Delhi High Court seeks response from Delhi Police and LG on PIL alleging non-compliance of Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs) with the JJ Act. RTI findings reveal gaps in SJPU functioning, including absence of dedicated personnel and social workers.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court directed the Lieutenant Governor and the Delhi Police to file a response to a public interest litigation (PIL) regarding the functioning of Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs) in all districts of Delhi. The court has asked whether these units are working as per the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act).
The next hearing is scheduled for April 30, 2025.
The PIL was filed by Alpha Phiris Dayal through advocate Robin Raju. It raises serious concerns over the incomplete setup of SJPUs, which play a crucial role in child protection under the JJ Act. The bench, consisting of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, has sought updated status reports on the composition and functioning of these units in each district of Delhi.
The petition highlights that the Supreme Court and the High Court have repeatedly stressed the importance of child welfare.
It states, “The Supreme Court and this Court have, through various rulings over the years, emphasised the need to prioritize the concerns of vulnerable sections of society, particularly children.”
The plea explains how different child protection laws have been introduced over time due to increasing cases of child abuse. It mentions the Juvenile Justice Act (2000), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) (2012), and the amendments to the Child Labour Act (2016). The JJ Act was further amended in 2015, and the Model Rules under this Act came into effect in 2016.
The petition states, “Acts such as the Juvenile Justice Act (enacted in 2000), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (2012), and the amendments to the Child Labour Act (2016) were responses to the increasing incidents of child abuse since the 1990s.”
Under Section 106 of the JJ Act, the State Government must establish a Child Protection Society at the state level and a Child Protection Unit in each district. Section 107 mandates the appointment of Child Welfare Police Officers and the formation of SJPUs.
The PIL claims that in many districts of Delhi, SJPUs are not fully functional as per the JJ Act, 2015. The petitioner had filed a Right to Information (RTI) application with the Delhi Police, seeking details on the functioning of these units. The responses from two districts revealed that their SJPUs were not working properly.
The petition emphasizes, “The SJPUs have a critical role in addressing matters related to children, ensuring the effective implementation of the JJ Act, which includes establishing and maintaining institutions under the Act, notifying competent authorities in relation to children’s welfare, rehabilitating children, coordinating with various official and non-official agencies, and performing other prescribed functions.”
With the rise in crimes against minors and increasing juvenile involvement in crimes, the importance of fully functional SJPUs is greater than ever.
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The petitioner had filed an RTI application on November 7, 2024, with the Delhi Police Headquarters to get clarity on the status of SJPUs. The responses from different districts highlighted significant issues.
- The Public Information Officer (PIO) of South District stated, “No specific police personnel were working at SJPU in South District, and there were no social workers posted or working there.”
- The PIO of New Delhi District confirmed, “The absence of social workers in their SJPU.”
- The PIO of North-East District mentioned, “The welfare officer previously posted by CWC/DCPU and DLSA in SJPU/North-East Delhi had been transferred in February 2023.”
