‘Crime has won', says Nirbhaya's family after Delhi HC refuses stay on juvenile convict's release
New Delhi: "Crime has won and we have lost (Jurm jeet gaya, hum haar gaye)" was the immediate reaction of the family of the December 16 gangrape victim, after the Delhi High Court today refused to stay the release of the juvenile convict, who is now a major and due to be set free on Sunday.
"Despite all our efforts for three years, our government and our courts have released a criminal. The assurance we were given that we would get justice, that has not been delivered. We are very disappointed. We haven't seen him, not met him, but despite all our efforts, the criminal will walk free," Asha Devi, mother of the victim, said, adding their three-year-old battle for justice has gone in vain.
Read:
Nirbhaya gangrape case: Delhi govt submits rehabilitation plan for juvenile convict
December 16 gangrape case: High Court refuses to stay release of juvenile convict
Release of juvenile convict: Maneka Gandhi puts blame on Rajya Sabha
The victim's father also expressed disappointment over the order and said it should have had a deterrent effect. He indicated that they have no plans to move the Supreme Court for now.
"The order must be delivered while keeping in mind that it helps in the betterment of society and acts as a deterrent so that no one can commit such kind of crime in future," he said, adding that the law must be changed.
Reacting on the verdict, central government's standing counsel Anil Soni said, "Once again the terror of Delhi will walk on street of national capital, just because, unfortunately, the Rajya Sabha has not passed the amendment bill of Juvenile Justice Act, enhancing the sentence of juvenile involved in serious offence."
"The court was constrained within the law and could not order more detention exceeding three years of the juvenile who was in conflict of the law. However the court has taken into consideration the point raised in the writ petition and will deliberate upon it and has also given next date of hearing in the matter," Soni said.
Also read:
Nirbhaya gangrape case: Juvenile to walk free on Sunday; DCW flays move
My daughter was Jyoti Singh, not ashamed to name her, says Nirbhaya’s mother
Nirbhaya gangrape: We failed to get justice for our daughter, says father
The paramedical student, whose real name was Jyoti Singh but was known as Nirbhaya for her brave fight against the six criminals, was brutally gangraped and assaulted inside a moving bus on the night of December 16 three years ago. She battled for her life for 13 days but died on December 29, 2012 in a Singapore hospital where she had been airlifted from Delhi for better treatment.
Mukesh, Vinay, Pawan and Akshay were awarded death penalty by trial court in the gangrape and murder case which was later confirmed by Delhi High Court. Their appeals are pending before the Supreme Court.
Accused Ram Singh had allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail on March 11, 2013, and proceedings against him were abated following his death.
