BENGALURU: Though the Rajya Sabha passed the Juvenile Justice Bill, amending the law to allow trying those over 16 years of age and accused of heinous crimes, the activists have demanded for an amendment that would allow stringent punishment for those who commit heinous crimes, irrespective of their age.
“I would like to ask our Parliamentarians whether they would have passed the same bill if there daughters would have met the same fate that Jyothi Singh met. Beasts are, by and large, aggressive and those who commit heinous crimes are the same. Can we bring down their aggressiveness? It is better to scrap the existing law and bring a new law that allows same punishment to adults and minors, who commit crimes like this,” said senior advocate Pramila Nesargi. She also expressed anger over the new amendment as it was not applicable for old cases.
“The amendment is applicable only for the crimes committed hereafter, but the accused in the Jyothi Singh has been released. And, there are so many other men who are already walking free after their release. What about them? What is guarantee that they will not commit such offence again?” she asked.
Meanwhile, Sharanya Hegde of Mahila Dakshata Samiti also said that a person, who commits a crime, should get equal punishment, irrespective of his age. “The times have changed and the laws should be amended accordingly. There are instances of 13-14 year old boys committing murders and rapes. So, the crime should be weighed on the gravity and not age,” she added.
However, some of the activists have opposed the move terming it as short sighted and emotional. “Passing the bill would not help much as the issues which leads to such crimes by minors have to be addressed. Now they have lowered it to 16 years, what if tomorrow some 15-year-old boy commits another heinous crime, which leads to national outrage? Will the Parliament again bring it down to 13-14 years? The focus should be on to solve the issues that lead to such crimes. Constant vigil, counselling and rehabilitation should be enforced strictly. Reformation is the idea behind any punishment and it has to be followed,” said K.S. Vimala of Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane.
Expressing a similar opinion, Nagasimha G Rao, Director of Child Rights Trust, said that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child has set the age of minors at 18 internationally and they should be tried under the Juvenile Justice provisions.
“The reason is that that there will be no logical thinking in those who are below 18 years. Before making this amendment, the Parliamentarians should have debated the issue on scientific and psychological grounds. This is an ‘emotional’ amendment rather than a scientific one. I would say that this will create more victims than helping a victim.”
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