V
V.Balasubramani
Guest
[h=1]Dec 16 gang-rape: What if juvenile convict hasn’t been reformed?[/h]The Centre’s request to the Delhi High Court on Monday to extend the lone juvenile convict’s stay in a “safe home” in connection with the December 16 gang rape case has once again exposed the shortcomings in the Juvenile Justice Act--often criticised for its pro-delinquent tilt.
The Juvenile Justice Board’s order to release the convict--now a 21-year-old adult--on December 20 is based on the presumption that he has reformed after staying in a reform home as required under the Act.
But what if he hasn’t been reformed to be re-integrated into the mainstream of society? In fact, the law doesn’t envisage such a situation. Rather, it presumes that the juvenile delinquent has been reformed.
The Act does not even use the term “convict” for a juvenile delinquent found guilty of an offence. It uses the expression “juvenile in conflict with law”.
Read more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/edito...en-reformed/story-eC1Hn7KoHzgV1XvKJPIGVK.html
The Juvenile Justice Board’s order to release the convict--now a 21-year-old adult--on December 20 is based on the presumption that he has reformed after staying in a reform home as required under the Act.
But what if he hasn’t been reformed to be re-integrated into the mainstream of society? In fact, the law doesn’t envisage such a situation. Rather, it presumes that the juvenile delinquent has been reformed.
The Act does not even use the term “convict” for a juvenile delinquent found guilty of an offence. It uses the expression “juvenile in conflict with law”.
Read more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/edito...en-reformed/story-eC1Hn7KoHzgV1XvKJPIGVK.html