Unnecessary to amend Juvenile Justice Bill: Ram Jethmalani

Former law minister Ram Jethmalani on Tuesday said that there is no need to amend the Juvenile Justice Bill, adding that it was totally 'unnecessary' to change it just because of one incident.

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"I don't know if it will be passed, but according to me it shouldn't be passed," Jaithmalani told reporters.

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"The Juvenile Justice Bill is completely fine and there is no need to amend it just because of one incident. It is totally unnecessary," he added.

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The BJP had earlier assured disappointed Nirbhaya's parents that the Juvenile Justice Bill would be today passed in the Parliament.

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Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien said the Bill should be passed in the Parliament today without any further delay after having a healthy discussion.

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The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on also stuck to their guns in opposing the Juvenile Justice Bill, saying 'lowering the age of juveniles is not in the interest of justice'.

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With the Supreme Court showing its inability to prohibit the release of the juvenile in the Nirbhaya gangrape case in the absence of laws, telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had yesterday said the ruling dispensation at the Centre is keen to pass the Juvenile Justice Bill and was also ready to bring supplementary agenda on it in the Parliament.

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The apex court had dismissed the petition of Delhi Commission of Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal against the release of the juvenile offender in the December 16 gang rape case, saying 'there has to be a clear legislative sanction' in this regard.

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