New Delhi : As decks seemed to be cleared for the release of the juvenile convict in December 16 gang-rape case, Union minister Maneka Gandhi on Friday blamed Rajya Sabha for not passing the Bill to amend the Juvenile Justice Act, which seeks stringent punishment for children aged between 16-18 involved in heinous crimes.
Says had they passed the Juvenile Justice Bill, he (accused juvenile) would not have gone scot-free
“I would blame Rajya Sabha for not passing the law. Had they passed the Bill, he (accused juvenile) would not have gone scot-free,” Gandhi said outside the Parliament.
She said the existing law is insufficient to hold the punishment of the accused juvenile who was the most gruesome of all six rapists.
The juvenile convict, now 20, is likely to walk free on Sunday after his three-year sentence at a correction home gets over. “There is nothing that we can do as the existing law cannot deal with this,” the Union Minister for Women and Child Development said, reports PTI.
Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said though the court’s decision cannot be questioned, the matter needs to be deliberated upon to find a solution. “I cannot question the court’s decision as it works in the ambit of laws. We will have to deliberate upon possible solutions in this matter,” she said. However, BJP leader and former top cop Kiran Bedi said even after he is released, the 20-year-old youth can be arrested by Delhi police for apprehension of breach of peace.
“Rapist being released can be arrested by Delhi Police under 107/151 of CRPC for apprehension of breach of peace till SC considers parents petition,” she tweeted. The order evoked dismay among activists who said that it was necessary to ascertain that the youth has been reformed before releasing him in the society.
[alert type=”e.g. warning, danger, success, info” title=””]
DCW seeks Prez, CJI intervention to stall juvenile’s release
New Delhi: DCW chief Swati Maliwal on Friday sought intervention of the Chief Justice of India and the President against releasing of the juvenile convict in the December 16 gangrape case, saying he must be kept in observation home until his reformation is ascertained.
Terming the Delhi HC’s refusal to stay the release of the juvenile as a “dark day” in the history of the country, Maliwal shot off letters to President Pranab Mukherjee, CJI TS Thakur and the Principal Magistrate of Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) Murari Prasad Singh, reports PTI. “In light of the particularly heinous nature of the crime executed by this boy, the DCW requests your Hon’ble self to kindly intervene in the matter and ensure that the boy be kept in the observation home at least until his mental frame of mind and reformation is properly ascertained,” she said.
[/alert]
