Steer clear of trouble: Juvenile justice is on road to reform

By Atiya Firdos

Cops are enforcing Juvenile Justice Act more rigorously in Bengaluru; 4 cases booked under Act in last 2 months

The city is observing a concerning trend where minors are increasingly found violating traffic laws, leading to legal consequences for their parents as well. Highlighting the importance of invoking the Juvenile Justice Act in these cases, Deputy Commissioner Police (DCP) Traffic East Kuldeep Kumar Jain said, “We have seen cases where minor children, even school kids, are driving two-wheelers. In light of incidents in Mumbai and Pune, we have begun to enforce the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act) more rigorously in the city.”

Recently, the KR Puram Traffic Police have filed an FIR (first investigation report) under the JJ Act in a case involving a minor caught riding a Honda Activa with three friends. The police have also taken legal action against both the scooter’s owner and the minor’s parents. In a separate case, the Yelahanka Police charged an 18-year-old under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for performing dangerous stunts while under the influence of ganja.

To address the rising number of such incidents, Bengaluru Traffic Police are now enforcing stricter measures to curb violations and ensure greater adherence to traffic laws.

4 cases in last 2 months

The DCP further stressed how negligence on the part of parents also needs to be addressed more effectively. “So far, we have booked four cases under the JJ Act in the last month and a half, with three of them related to bike stunts. Despite awareness campaigns and press notes, these cases continue rising in the city, and hence the need to prosecute some of these cases in order to curb this issue is needed,” he explained.

The increased focus on the JJ Act follows similar incidents in Mumbai and Pune, where minors involved in dangerous stunts and traffic violations prompted stricter enforcement of laws to hold parents and guardians accountable.

In a recent instance in Mumbai city, the city police booked a 16-year-old boy who was caught performing dangerous stunts on a motorcycle in a residential area under the JJ Act. Additionally, the boy’s father, who owned the motorcycle, was held accountable for negligence and was also booked under relevant sections.

Strict measures in place
With rising cases in Bengaluru, the traffic police are now emphasising the need for preventive measures, alongside strict enforcement, to address the issue more comprehensively. “Minors who engage in bike stunts or ride triples, violating traffic rules, are being dealt with seriously. We hold the parents responsible for providing them with the vehicles. Once we find that a minor is involved in such activities, we book the parents under the JJ Act. If the minor is found under the influence of drugs, they are also booked under the NDPS Act, and the law enforcement authorities take over from there,” said Siri Gowri, DCP Traffic North.