In an unwelcome development, causing concern is Tamil Nadu moving to fourth place in crimes committed by children in conflict with the law (CCL), despite the Dravidian Model DMK government boasting of its educational development as incomparable with other states in the country. The ground reality is in total contrast if we go by the crime data available.
In an interview with the Tamil daily Dinamalar, former state president of the Tamil Nadu Psychiatric Association, Dr Panneerselvam, has expressed his strong concern over the increasing rate of juvenile crime in the state. He said that Tamil Nadu ranks fourth in the country in this category, raising an alarm to prevent it from going beyond our control and endangering the future of youth and society.
Panneerselvam said, “Juveniles (minors or below 18 years old) make up 33% of India’s population, with 6-7% involved in criminal activities. Among them, 80% are male and 20% are female. Tamil Nadu follows West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar in juvenile crime rates. TN leads among southern states, with 16.4% of its minors engaged in criminal activities. A study conducted last year revealed that violence and drug abuse are growing concerns among juveniles.”
He said, “Out of every one lakh juveniles, 17% exhibit aggressive tendencies, leading them to engage in physical attacks. Additionally, 44% have a habit of provoking others with verbal abuse, while 15% struggle with misconceptions about sexuality. Alarmingly, 50% of children aged 14 to 18 have used drugs at least once, and observations from mental health centres suggest that substance abuse is becoming a serious issue among youth.”
Dr Panneerselvam listed the reasons for this highly concerning trend: “Factors such as parental conflicts, exposure to alcohol and smoking, bad company, and living conditions contribute to juvenile delinquency.” He stressed the need for parents and teachers to closely monitor children’s behaviour and emphasised that training programmes are being conducted to address these concerns.
A study of NCRB data on crimes committed by juveniles reveals a notable trend from 2013 to 2022. During this period, the number of reported crimes decreased from 43,506 to 30,555, marking a reduction of 12,951 crimes, which accounts for approximately 30% over ten years. Since 2013, the number of crimes committed by juveniles has generally exhibited a decline, with occasional exceptions in 2016, 2019, and 2021. During these years, there was a marginal increase in reported crimes compared to preceding years. Specifically, the number of crimes rose from 33,433 to 35,849 in 2016, from 31,591 to 32,235 in 2019, and from 29,768 to 31,170 in 2021.
The incidents of crimes by juveniles in Tamil Nadu have increased, with 2,607 cases registered in 2022 compared to 2,212 cases in 2021. Overall, Tamil Nadu is ranked fourth in the list, while Maharashtra tops it with 4,406 cases. Madhya Pradesh, with 3,795 cases, and Rajasthan, with 3,063 cases, were ranked second and third, respectively. In Tamil Nadu, the most cases were related to theft (548), closely followed by hurt/assault (425), rash driving (208), murder (102), and attempted murder (101). Under Special and Local Laws (SLL) cases, the most were under the POSCO Act (238), apart from 33 cases under the Prohibition Act.
Student counsellors point out, “The information boom, availability of iPhones and peer influence, crime scene depictions in movies, rags-to-riches dreams portrayed in cinema, rape and love scenes in the celluloid medium are some other factors that influence juveniles in the wrong way. Television serials and freely available material in print and electronic media also misguide them, making them dream of becoming millionaires with luxuries, owning SUVs, jewellery, multiple wives, and engaging in casual sex. Most become disobedient in classes. Some attribute this to their family background, where either their father, brothers, or mother’s relatives are involved in crimes. They take them as role models, observing their fights, quarrels, alcohol consumption, narcotics use, and smoking, combined with their lack of interest in education despite government incentives. In Chennai, we see students clashing with lethal weapons, travelling on bus rooftops, and intimidating train passengers as well as rival students with machetes and long knives. Some have been killed. Their living environment and bad friends are also factors. Fortunately, they have not yet gained access to guns, rifles, and revolvers for their crimes. Juveniles engage in chain-snatching, drug addiction, as well as murders and rapes.”
Juvenile Crime in Tamil Nadu:
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), under the Government of India, records all types of crimes. Each year, the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) collects data from the District Crime Records Bureau (DCRB) and submits it to the NCRB for its annual report. It collates data submitted and studies it to produce a state-wise and crime-wise report. The NCRB stated that the country’s crime rate decreased from 487.8 incidents per 100,000 people in 2020 to 445.9 in 2021.
The latest report states, “India’s 2025 crime report shows a small decrease in overall crime, down by 0.6% from 2024. However, rape cases rose by 1.1%, and kidnappings increased by 5.1%. Crime is still higher in cities than in rural areas. The most frequent crime is theft, followed by robbery. Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Bihar have the highest crime rates.”
Educational and juvenile counsellors say, “Crimes against children and women are increasing in Tamil Nadu. Not only teachers, research guides, and relatives, but also known friends and school peers face threats from senior students. There have been rape incidents involving minors aged one to eighteen.”
Juvenile crime cases in Tamil Nadu have increased, with 2,607 cases reported in 2022 compared to 2,212 cases in 2021. Nationally, Tamil Nadu ranks fourth, while Maharashtra tops the list with 4,406 cases, followed by Madhya Pradesh (3,795 cases) and Rajasthan (3,063 cases).
In Tamil Nadu in 2022, police detained 3,287 juveniles. Out of these, 170 were released during investigation, while 35 were sentenced to imprisonment. A total of 510 were acquitted or discharged, and 1,044 were sent home with parental supervision after counselling. Additionally, 751 were remanded to special homes, while 189 were fined.
The educational background of the juveniles involved in crimes shows that 1,782 came from families where parents had studied up to the higher secondary level, while 769 belonged to families with education beyond higher secondary. There were 2,955 juveniles living with their parents, while 146 were pavement dwellers.
Chennai Among Top Metro Cities in Juvenile Crime
Among metropolitan cities, Chennai recorded 521 juvenile crime incidents in 2022, up from 496 in 2021, making it the second highest after Delhi, which reported 2,336 cases in 2022. The previous year, Delhi had 2,618 cases, showing a slight decline.
Experts urge all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and police, to intervene immediately through education, counselling, and stricter monitoring to curb juvenile crime and prevent young individuals from falling into delinquency.
It is pertinent to mention a report submitted last January by retired High Court Judge K Chandru. In his 495-page report, he narrated “the horrific conditions in state-run juvenile homes in Tamil Nadu for children in conflict with the law.” The prevailing conditions in the 13 homes meant to rehabilitate these children are appalling. He calls one home a ‘house of horror.’
Critics argue that these details are alarming, yet Dravidian political parties deliberately ignore ground realities, focusing solely on consolidating political power rather than addressing the security and well-being of society. Their negligence poses a serious risk to the present and future generations. Without immediate intervention, the problem may escalate to uncontrollable levels, endangering the social fabric of Tamil Nadu.
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