Punishment shouldn't be based on 'age factor': CPI (M)

After the Supreme Court's dismissal of the plea by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) against the release of the juvenile offender in the December 16 gang-rape case, Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday pointed out that "punishment for a crime shouldn't be based on age factor, rather crime should be defined".

"Even if this bill (Juvenile Justice Act Amendment) gets passed, this law will not be enforced on that particular juvenile. What if a similar incident takes place where age of culprit is 15 years and 10 months? Punishment for a crime shouldn't be based on age factor, rather crime should be defined," Yechury told ANI.

"There should be justice. The question is do we define juvenile under age or crime? A common opinion must be formed on this and we will definitely support it," he added.

The court earlier today dismissed the petition of DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal against the release of the juvenile offender in the gang-rape case, saying 'there has to be a clear legislative sanction' in this regard.

Disappointed by the court's decision, Nirbhaya's parents on Monday said that the "women of this country will never get justice".

Rejecting the DCW's petition, the court earlier said that under existing law detention cannot go beyond three years.