Continuing the declining trend witnessed in recent years, the conviction rate in Indian Penal Code (IPC) cases in Chandigarh has hit a low of 42 per cent in 2023, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report.
The data reveals that out of 2,209 persons arrested under IPC crimes, only 873 were convicted, while 1,225 were acquitted and two discharged. A closer look at the 2023 statistics shows that Chandigarh Police arrested 2,209 individuals, of which 2,097 were males and 112 females. Among juveniles, 177 were apprehended, including 176 boys and a single girl.
The bulk of arrests were among young adults — 942 persons between 18 and 30 years (916 males, 26 females) — followed by 711 individuals aged 30–45 (653 males, 58 females). Among those aged 45–60, 352 arrests were made (328 males, 24 females), and only 27 arrests were recorded for those above 60 years (24 males, 3 females).
Despite this large number of arrests, the conviction figures remain subdued. Of the 873 convictions, 841 were males and 32 were females, highlighting that more than half of the accused were acquitted, including 1,180 males and 45 females. This keeps the conviction rate hovering at just 42 per cent, raising questions about investigation quality, evidence collection, and prosecution efficiency.
Historical NCRB data shows that Chandigarh’s conviction rates have seen considerable fluctuations over the past decade. In 2022, the city recorded its highest IPC conviction rate in ten years at nearly 52 per cent, with 1,027 persons convicted out of 2,400 arrested. The previous year, 2021, saw a stronger rate of 63 per cent, with 1,289 convictions from 2,324 arrests. In contrast, 2020 reflected a steep dip, with only 368 convictions from 2,931 arrests, translating to a rate of roughly 48 per cent.
Looking further back, Chandigarh courts completed 2,308 IPC trials in 2013, convicting 1,175 accused (50.9 per cent). The rate then fell to 40 per cent in 2014, slightly improved to 43.6 per cent in 2015, and hovered around 44.3 per cent in 2016. However, a dramatic drop occurred in 2017 when only 576 convictions were recorded from 1,484 trials, bringing the rate down to 38.8 percent. In 2018, a slight recovery to 42 per cent was recorded, but the figures still remained below the 50 per cent mark.
Speaking on the low conviction rate in 2023, SSP Chandigarh Police Kanwardeep Kaur cited the introduction of new legislation as a game-changer. “With the implementation of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), along with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) since July 2024, we have registered 180 FIRs under the new laws, and there has been a 92 per cent conviction rate since then,” she said.
The SSP emphasised that efforts to improve coordination with the prosecution are ongoing. Regular training sessions for prosecutors and police officers on the new legal provisions are expected to enhance case preparation, strengthen evidence presentation, and, ultimately, raise conviction rates.
Advocate Abhilaksh Gaind, a practising counsel at the trial courts and the high court, pointed out that while Chandigarh’s small population and relatively low crime load should make prosecution easier, the city has historically struggled with high acquittal rates.
The 2023 NCRB data underscores that systemic challenges such as delays in trials, lack of concrete evidence, and hostile witnesses continue to affect conviction outcomes, Gaind added.
The data reveals that out of 2,209 persons arrested under IPC crimes, only 873 were convicted, while 1,225 were acquitted and two discharged (Representational/File Photo) 
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