Delhi gangrape: Centre assures passage of Juvenile Justice Bill

These changes include the removal of Clause 7, which proposed to try persons above the age of 21 as adults for offences committed when they were between the ages of 16-18. “We hope that people who are not letting this bill get passed get resipiscence and let this bill get passed”, Naqvi told ANI.

Members of the Rajya Sabha today gave their unequivocal assent to the passing of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014.

The bill, which has been passed in Rajya Sabha, was listed for passage in the current Winter Session of the Parliament.

Today’s vote in the Rajya Sabha came at the end of a debate piloted by Maneka Gandhi, union minister for women and child development, who made a strong pitch for it, saying it could not be “more nuanced and compassionate”.

“They (juvenile convicts) will not stay with adults in jails meant for adults… They shouldn’t be kept in the same cell with hardened criminals for the fear that they could turn out even worse than they were”. “It does not exist at present…it will be created”, the minister said.

The Bill will empower the Juvenile Justice Board to decide whether a minor above 16 years involved in heinous crimes is to be sent in a observation home or tried in a regular court. Naidu said that in parliament, the government has always said that it is willing for a discussion on juvenile justice.

She said the incidents of heinous crimes by juveniles of the age of 16 years and above were on the rise and cited statistics to support her contention.

“The Juvenile Justice Bill is completely fine and there is no need to amend it just because of one incident. ‘Or I have raped, murdered, send me to JJ…'”, Maneka Gandhi said.