New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Ministry of Law and Justice on a PIL demanding the law to punish juveniles to be made more stringent. The petition sought quashing of a provision in Juvenile Justice Act which spares minor convicts from life term and death penalty.
A division bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice VK Jain issued the notice to the ministeries and asked them to file their response by February 14. The petition would be again heard on that date.
The PIL sought to declare as ultra vires some provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, alleging that recent incidents showed that those aged 16 years were involved in "serious crimes" and are "quite well developed". "They do not need the care and protection of the society, rather the society needs care and protection against them," read the PIL.
Advocate RK Kapoor said if juveniles above 16 years were involved in "heinous crime" like rape and murder, they should not be treated as juveniles and be given harsher punishment. He added that those above 16 should not be allowed to escape "life term" and "death penalty" and that they should be made to serve their full sentence instead of being freed after they turn 18.
(With additional information from IANS)
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