Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday, 30 June told the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly that the state government will formally send a proposal to the Centre seeking to lower the age threshold for juvenile delinquents from 18 years to 16 years. The announcement came during a debate on rising juvenile crime and signals a significant shift in how Maharashtra intends to address the exploitation of minors in criminal networks.

What the Proposal Entails

Fadnavis stated that necessary amendments to existing law will be pursued to ensure stricter action against individuals who exploit children for criminal activities, including drug distribution. A high-level committee will be appointed to conduct a scientific analysis of the growing trend of juvenile delinquency across the state.

The Chief Minister also indicated that the government is considering invoking strict provisions related to organised crime against gangs and individuals who use minors to execute offences — a move aimed at closing loopholes that currently shield adult orchestrators behind juvenile perpetrators.

The Trigger: Exploitation of Legal Protections

Fadnavis pointed out that certain criminal elements are deliberately exploiting a legal provision that mandates placing children in observation homes rather than arresting them. He noted that serious offences are increasingly being committed by children under the age of 16, making the current age threshold of 18 inadequate as a deterrent.

The debate was initiated by Arjun Khotkar, who raised concerns about the rising trend of juvenile delinquency specifically in Jalna district. Sudhir Mungantiwar participated with a supplementary question. Fadnavis separately clarified that a recent incident in Latur was a personal matter stemming from a family dispute, with juveniles involved already produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.

Preventive Measures Already Underway

Minister of State Yogesh Kadam informed the Assembly that several preventive and rehabilitative measures are already being implemented statewide. Police regularly conduct awareness campaigns, counselling sessions, and guidance programmes on cyber security and de-addiction for students, parents, and teachers in schools and colleges.

Special Juvenile Police Units have been established across all police wings under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Through these units, the 'CARE' (Counselling and Reformative Education) programme is being implemented to reintegrate juveniles into the mainstream. Observation homes are also placing special emphasis on education, counselling, personality development, and rehabilitation.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana Funds Also Raised

In a separate matter during Question Hour in the Legislative Council, Minister Uday Samant stated that Maharashtra is continuously pursuing the Centre for approximately ₹78 crore in pending funds under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana — a scheme for poor, homeless, and extremely needy families in urban areas with populations exceeding one lakh.

The scheme follows a 60:40 funding split between the Centre and the state. Samant said a fresh demand will be placed before the Central Government, and the state is also examining whether its 40 per cent share can be released ahead of receiving the Centre's allocation. The issue was raised by member Hemant Patil, with Pravin Darekar and Abhijeet Vanjari raising supplementary questions.

With the proposal now set to be formally submitted to New Delhi, the outcome will depend on whether the Centre agrees to amend the Juvenile Justice Act — a move that is likely to draw both legal scrutiny and public debate.