Juvenile Justice Bill passed in Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Juvenile Justice Bill.

The parents of December 16, 2002 gang-rape and murder victim were continuously protesting the release of the juvenile convict, while urging both the government and the Opposition to pass the bill.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014, provides for the trial of those between 16-18 years as adults for heinous offences. Also, anyone between the age of 16-18 who commits a less serious offence may be tried as an adult if he is apprehended after he attains the age of 21.

Several parties, including NCP, CPI (M) and DMK, pushed for sending the Bill to a Select Committee, arguing that further examination was required to decide whether the age for punitive action should be reduced to 16 years from the current level of 18 years.

Parents of the December 2012 gang-rape victim watched deliberations in the Rajya Sabha as Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi pushed for the Juvenile Justice Bill.

Parents of the victim have said that the convict could escape after spending three years in a correction home only because the law is weak.

Moving the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill for consideration and passage, Maneka Gandhi today said the legislation is compassionate and comprehensive in nature.

The Bill was taken up against the backdrop of uproar over release of juvenile convict in the heinous gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old girl on December 16, 2012.