Juvenile Justice Act: 16-year-olds to face trial as adults
Amendments will facilitate faster adoptions of children and setting up foster care homes
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the move to amend the law to empower Juvenile Justice Boards to decide if someone above 16 who is involved in a heinous crime like rape should be sent to an observation home or tried in a regular court.
Sources said a Bill to amend the Juvenile Justice Act will soon be placed before Parliament for approval. All Central ministries have given their approval to amendments to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000.
The changes in the law come against the backdrop of the relatively light sentence of three years given to a juvenile accused in the Delhi gangrape case of December 2012.
Under the Bill, in no case will a juvenile guilty of a heinous crime be sentenced to death or life imprisonment either when tried under the provisions of the JJ Act or under the IPC’s provisions.
The amendments will also facilitate faster adoptions of children and setting up foster care homes. The Central Adoption Resource Authority will also be empowered to regulate inter-country adoptions.