Suspense over Juvenile Justice Bill remains; Nirbhaya’s parents to meet Sushma Swaraj

With Opposition's massive protest over the DDCA scam in the Rajya Sabha, the suspense over the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2015 still remained.

New Delhi, Dec 22: With Opposition’s massive protest over the DDCA scam in the Rajya Sabha, the suspense over the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2015 still remained. The Upper House of the Parliament will take up the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2015 for consideration and passage today following the Supreme Court’s dismissal of a plea against the release of the juvenile offender in the December 16 gang-rape case.

Parents of the December 16 gangrape victim will meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and seek the passage of the Juvenile Justice Bill. The parents of the victim met Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi at his residence and Ghulam Nabi Azad, Opposition Leader in Rajya Sabha and urged the immediate passage of the Bill. The Government and Opposition accused each other for delaying the Juvenile Bill. (ALSO READ: Juvenile Justice Bill should be passed after healthy discussion: TMC)

The proposed Bill allows a magistrate to decide if a minor between ages 16 and 18, accused of heinous crimes like rape and murder, can be tried as an adult in a regular court by measuring his mental maturity. As per existing Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, a juvenile (who is below the age of 18 years) in conflict with law, regardless of the type of offence committed, may spend a maximum of three years. The child cannot be given any penalty higher than three years, nor be tried as an adult and be sent to an adult jail.