Govt may consider making law tougher for juveniles: Tirath

The government may consider to make law tougher for juveniles who repeatedly commit heinous offences like rape, Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Krishna Tirath today said even as she opposed reduction of age of juveniles from 18 to 16 years.
Asked about the recommendations by a parliamentary panel which had suggested lowering the age of juveniles from 18 to 16 years, she said, "Once we receive the suggestions, we can consider if we can make a small amendment that if a juvenile repeatedly commits heinous crimes or rape then what action can be taken, (but only) after seeing the recommendations."

The minister said that she had not yet received the recommendations of the parliamentary committee and added that she was not in favour of reduction of age of juveniles.
"The committee's recommendations can be deliberated, but we are in favour of keeping the present definition of child," Tirath said on the sidelines of Stakeholder's Consultation of IBSA Women's Forum 2013 here.
There has been a debate whether or not to lower the juvenile age in the backdrop of a brutal gangrape of a paramedical student in Delhi in December last year, in which a minor has also been made an accused.

Speaking at the Forum, she said the consultations at the Forum will help to come up with suggestions that would improve the condition of women at ground level in India, Brazil and South Africa.