The Haryana Human Rights Commission has expressed grave concern over the continuous rise in crimes against children in the state and has taken suo motu cognisance of the “Crime in India-2024” report released by the National Crime Records Bureau.
The Commission has initiated comprehensive proceedings in the matter and sought detailed reports from senior administrative, police and child protection authorities of the State.
The Bench, comprising Chairperson Justice Lalit Batra, Member (Judicial) Kuldip Jain and Member Deep Bhatia, observed in its order that the NCRB report presented an extremely disturbing picture of crimes against children in Haryana. According to the report, 7,547 cases of crimes against children were registered in Haryana during the year 2024, reflecting an increase of approximately 17.9 per cent as compared to the year 2023. The crime rate against children in Haryana has reportedly reached 82.8 cases per lakh child population, stated to be the highest in the country.
The report further reveals that these offences include murder of children, rape, penetrative sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, trafficking, child marriage, abandonment, foeticide, sexual harassment and offences punishable under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
The Commission observed that the figures relating to offences under the POCSO Act, particularly involving girl children, pose a serious threat to the physical safety, emotional well-being, dignity and psychological development of children in the State. The data relating to missing children and kidnapping cases also raises serious concerns regarding trafficking, exploitation and vulnerability of minors.
The Haryana Human Rights Commission further observed that despite statutory safeguards and repeated interventions by constitutional and statutory authorities, incidents involving abuse, violence, exploitation, neglect and ill-treatment of children continue to rise. The Commission has on several earlier occasions taken suo-motu cognisance of matters relating to corporal punishment, abuse in educational institutions, child neglect and violations affecting children. However, the continuous upsurge in crimes against children prima facie indicates that preventive mechanisms, monitoring systems, deterrent measures and institutional accountability have failed to yield the desired results.
The Commission observed that children are entitled to special protection under the constitutional framework as well as under various welfare legislations enacted for safeguarding their rights and dignity. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, was enacted specifically to protect children from sexual assault, harassment and exploitation through child-friendly procedures for reporting, investigation and trial. Similarly, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, imposes statutory obligations upon the State machinery to ensure care, protection, rehabilitation and social reintegration of children.
The Commission also specifically noted that Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act provides punishment for cruelty towards children, while Section 82 addresses corporal punishment in child care institutions. These statutory provisions clearly recognise that any form of physical or mental abuse inflicted upon children amounts to a violation of their dignity and lawful rights. Despite such legal safeguards, incidents of violence, intimidation, neglect and exploitation of children continue to emerge from educational institutions, child care institutions, neighbourhoods and other social spaces, thereby indicating serious systemic deficiencies requiring urgent attention.
The Commission further observed that schools, educational institutions, hostels, child care institutions and all agencies dealing with children are expected to function as guardians entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring a safe, secure and dignified environment for children. Educational institutions are not merely centres of academic instructions but are also constitutionally and morally responsible for the protection and development of children. However, the recurring incidents reflected in the NCRB data raise serious concerns regarding the effectiveness of supervision, sensitization programmes, counselling systems, grievance redressal mechanisms and preventive child protection frameworks presently operating in the State.
Accordingly, the Full Bench headed by Justice Lalit Batra has directed the Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Haryana, Home, Jails, Criminal Investigation and Administration of Justice Department, Chandigarh, for a reportregarding preventive policing measures, investigation mechanisms, monitoring systems, functioning of Special Juvenile Police Units and effective implementation of the POCSO Act 2012 and Juvenile Justice Act 2015 in the State.
The Additional Chief Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, Haryana, Chandigarh, has been asked for report regarding child protection mechanisms, rehabilitation measures, counselling services, monitoring of child care institutions and functioning of District Child Protection Units and Child Welfare Committees in the State.
The Director General of Police, Haryana, Panchkula, has been asked regarding district-wise status of registration, investigation, disposal and conviction in cases relating to crimes against children, including offences under the POCSO Act, missing children cases, trafficking and child abuse matters.
