Three -year compilation of basic data from the juvenile Judicial Clinic of Helpdesk at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, emphasizes the background of children coming in contact with the Juvenile Justice system. The collected data covering 577 children (in conflict with the law), collected in 2022 and 2025, show that most of them come from a social and economically disadvantaged background. More than half of the children did not finish the class 10 and in households without parents or without parents grew considerable.
As far as age is concerned, most with more than 70% (407 children) were 16 to 18 years old, while the remaining 170 were 12 to 16 years old. Children from marginalized communities were disproportionately represented-185 belonged to minority communities (Muslims and Christians) and 183 from the planned caste, planned tribes, planned tribes, planned tribes that were recorded together.
Educational challenges
The level of education further reflects the disadvantages that these children face. More than half, 319 children, did not finish class 10, while only 258 continued their studies above this level. Family circumstances further compose their vulnerability. Of the 577 children did not have 124 father, 28 did not have a mother and 12 did not have both parents. The data also indicates the gaps in further education and re -integration. While 44.7% of children were enrolled in class 10, most – 55.3% – dropped or did not proceed over the lower years, which scientists in NLSIU claim, reflect problems in re -integrating into the educational system.
Scientists from NLSIU Helpdesk said the initiative was established to provide legal assistance and psychosocial support for children in violation of the law. The findings, as they have noted, reveal system gaps that exceed the legal framework and include poverty, have disrupted family structures and unequal access to education.
Amaidhi Devaraj, co -founder, juvenile justice clinic, NLSIA, Bengaluru, said that although the Justice Act (Care and Protection of Children) of 2015 categorizes children as in conflict with right or in need of care and protection. They are given appropriate support and rehabilitation, which is the effort we try to solve through our HelpDesk initiative, “she said.
Intervention
Since March 2022, the Juvenile Justice clinic on NLSIU has made several interventions to support children who come into contact with the Juvenile Justice system. On the legal front, 65 children were given legal representation, while 134 children were provided with legal assistance and nearly 2,500 children participated in legal awareness. They were also arranged for 600 parties in Juvenile Justice System in cooperation with Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA), integrated child protection system (DCPO) and special juvenile police unit (SJPU), and special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) (ICPS), integrated program protection program (ICPS), in cooperation with the Office for Legal Services in Karnataka (SJPU).
The unit also worked closely with the Judicial Committee for the Youthful High Court in Karnataka and Kslsa to identify the gaps and challenges in the Judicial System. The key sources outputs are sets of tools intended for bail and for concerns and the first production of children to help participate parties to complete social investigation reports, audits to assess the functioning of homes in the carnation and studies emphasizing delays and waiting matters within youthful justice. The clinic also offers an optional course for NLSIU students to explore the juvenile judiciary system and engage in real -time cases to better understand systemic challenges.
Published – 29. September 2025 20:19
