Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1216, to be answered on 06.02.2026, addresses the formation and constitution of Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs) across districts, States, and Union Territories in India. Shri Anto Antony posed the questions to the Minister of Women and Child Development.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development, headed by Shrimati Annpurna Devi, is the nodal Ministry for the administration of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act, 2015). Section 107 of the Act mandates States/UTs to constitute an SJPU in each district and city. These units should be headed by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, and each police station should designate a child welfare police officer of at least Assistant Sub Inspector rank.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also advised State Governments and UT Administrations to establish Special Juvenile Protection Units in each district and city. Central maintenance of data on SJPUs set up in districts is not performed.
Key Entities Referenced
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015: Primary law for care and protection of children in the country, mandating the constitution of Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs) in each district.
Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs): Police units mandated by the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 to be established in each district to address issues related to juvenile justice.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The nodal Ministry for the administration of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The ministry that has also issued advisory to all State Governments and UT Administration to set up Special Juvenile Protection Unit.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO:1216
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2026
SPECIAL JUVENILE POLICE UNITS
1216. SHRI ANTO ANTONY:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
a. whether any statutory body, committee/commission has recommended the formation of
Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs) in every district in the country, if so, the details
thereof;
b. whether SJPUs have been constituted in all States/UTs, if so, the number of SJPUs
formed till date, State/UT-wise; and
c. whether there are any districts where SJPUs have not yet been constituted, if so, the
details of such districts, State/UT-wise
ANSWER
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)
(a) to (c): The Ministry of Women and Child Development is the nodal Ministry for the
administration of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act,
2015) which is the primary law for care and protection of children in the country. The Act
provides a security net of service delivery structures including measures for institutional and
non-institutional care to ensure comprehensive well-being of children in distress situations.
The implementation of this Act lies with the State Governments and Union Territory
administrations.
Under Section 107 of The Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, States/UTs are mandated to constitute
Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) in each district and city which should be headed by an
officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police and to designate one Officer,
not below the rank of Assistant Sub Inspector, as a child Welfare Police Officer in every Police
Station.
Further, Ministry of Home Affairs has also issued advisory to all State Governments and UT
Administration to set up Special Juvenile Protection Unit in each District and City. The data
of Special Juvenile Protection Units (SJPUs) set up in districts is not maintained Centrally.
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