It’s indeed very sad that the juvenile criminal, who in fact was more brutal and also instigated the other criminals, in the gang rape of “Nirbhaya” is walked out of jail after three years. It is unfortunate that even after the Juvenile Act (Justice Bill amendment) was passed in the Lok Sabha, the Hon’ble members of Rajya Sabha could not even devoted an hour or two to clear the amendments & pass this as crucial Juvenile Act, in this winter session. This would have perhaps, enabled the juvenile criminals to face the jail term and other punishments as per the IPC as applicable to the adult-criminals. This is really shame from our law-makers that harsh criminal left scot free!
Mrs. Maneka Gandhi had very rightly come forward with a proposal to treat juvenile rapists as adult criminals and that they may be treated under the IPC and given harsh punishments. She was right and she received all-round support for this. Considering the brutalities and the crime involved in the Delhi’s Nirbhaya gang rape case and Mumbai’s Shakti Mills gang rape cases, I strongly feel that no “under aged / minor” criminals should be treated as a juvenile and let off easily – with just a 3 year jail term and that’s too in a reformatory home.
When a juvenile clearly knows that what he is doing and indulge in gruesome crimes then he should not be treated as juvenile. He was knowing, what sex is and what rape is. He must be treated as an adult criminal punish under various and relevant section of the IPC.
In cases like rape, gruesome murder etc. juvenile criminals should never be let off with lighter punishments. We must expect the judiciary to understand and value the torturous time the victim had to undergo at the hands of the juvenile criminals too and the life that had been ruined consequently. And think about the victims’ parents and their mental torture. Society’s mere reaction, when they see the parents.
Three years is too short. In Nirbhaya case, it is not possible but thinks of other cases, if the criminals come out after three years and victim face him on the street. She once again will be traumatized. However, today Nirbhaya’s parents might be going through that stage.
