Dec 16 gangrape: Delhi HC refuses to stop juvenile’s release

The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to stop the release of the juvenile convict in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case.

HC also asks Juvenile Board to interact with convict, his guardians and officials of Delhi govt regarding his post release rehabilitation.

The other four convicts have been given death sentence because they were adult when the crime was committed.

“The need for ascertaining the factum of reformation of the juveniles in conflict with law before they are released from the special home on expiry of the period of stay ordered by the JJ Board, is a larger issue of public importance which requires deeper consideration…” the bench said.

The court was hearing a plea by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy who wanted the juvenile convict to remain in the corrective home till there was enough evidence that he had reformed himself and was not a menace to the society. The government should move court and seek to arrest the juvenile accused under National Security Act. “We hope that the excessive courtroom takes the decision in favour of the society as a result of even the High Court is aware of the struggling of my daughter”, Nirbahaya’s mother informed ANI. “What we feel is that he should not be released, it won’t be good if he gets released”.

The convict is now aged 21 and is expected to be released on Sunday.

The juvenile in the case has been in a remand home for the past three years.

In his petition Swamy claimed that the mental condition of the juvenile should be monitored.

The victim, who was brutally assaulted by six persons, including the juvenile, in a moving bus in south Delhi, had succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital plunging the country into grief.