ABSTRACT
Several academicians have noted various reasons for calling a certain group of tribes as criminal tribes. The problem of crime and criminal tribes in India for the British engaged them to address reclamation work of hardened and other habitual criminals. Magisterial and police authorities were empowered with the authority to deal with the cases of criminal tribes in India since 1800. Village headmen and watchmen were asked to watch the movements of members of criminal tribes and report offences, if any committed by them. Local police were given authority to inspect residences and villages. In a nutshell, the 1871 Act provided for registration, restriction and surveillance of Criminal Tribes. During the year 1919, the question of criminal tribes was again taken for review in terms of their living conditions. In the year 1946 government of the United Provinces appointed a committee to understand and solve the problems faced by criminal tribes.
