New Delhi : The Union cabinet has approved amendment in the Juvenile Justice Act, which proposes to treat juvenile older than 16 years as adults if involved in heinous crimes such as rape and murder. Television reports indicate that decision in this regard was taken at the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday in the national capital. The amended bill has the provisions that juvenile convicted for heinous crimes may face a jail term but will not be awarded life sentence or death penalty.
The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) will decide whether cases where a juvenile is involved in a heinous crime, would be tried under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act or normal trial court.
