Parliamentary panel rejects govt's proposal to try juveniles as adults in rape cases - Times of India

NEW DELHI: A parliamentary committee has rejected the government's proposal to try juveniles as adults for heinous crimes like rape and murder. The government was trying to bring changes in the law to make this happen.

The government's proposal however said the offender will not be handed either life imprisonment or capital punishment if found guilty.

Minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi, who was spearheading the changes, had recently said that she is in favour of treating juveniles who have committed heinous crimes on a par with adults.

Gandhi said, "According to police data, 50% of all sexual crimes were committed by 16-year-olds who know the Juvenile Justice Act so they can do it."

READ ALSO: 60% rise in rape by juveniles in 2013, NCRB data reveals

The women and child development ministry proposed juveniles who fell between the ages of 16 to 18 years and were guilty of heinous crimes or found to be repeat offenders of crimes like kidnapping, trafficking, attempt to murder or outraging the modesty of women could be liable for a longer prison term than the three years mandated under Juvenile Justice Act.

The ministry had come under fire from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and child rights activists for acting against international trends and in violation of the UN convention that India has signed.

OPINION: Punish heinous juvenile offenders

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