NEW DELHI, Feb 27:
Government has no plan to reduce the age of juveniles under the Juvenile Justice Act, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath informed the Rajya Sabha today.
Replying to a question on suggestions for amending the Act, she said, “We are not yet ready to reduce the age of juveniles.”
She said in a meeting held by the Ministry of Home Affairs with Chief Secretaries of state governments and Directors General of Police on January 4 a suggestion was made regarding lowering of age of juveniles from 18 years to 16 in the wake of the Delhi gang-rape case in which a juvenile is an accused.
“However, the Committee on Amendments to Criminal Law under the Chairmanship of Justice J S Verma (Retd), in its recommendations submitted on 23.1.2013, has not supported the suggestion regarding reduction of the age of the child in conflict with law.
“Accordingly, the Ministry of Women and Child Development is not considering any amendment to lower the age of children in conflict with law under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000,” she said.
To a supplementary by Jai Prakash Narayan Singh (BJP) on how much time will it take to include other suggestions on the issue, the Minister said, “These suggestions are under consideration of the Ministry.”
She said those juveniles who have committed serious crimes are put in different juvenile homes and are kept there for three years, where training is given to them to help make them good citizens.
“We want to keep children close to our hearts and help them become good citizens,” Tirath said.
In reply to another supplementary by Avtar Singh Karimpuri (BSP), she said, “The smaller amendments proposed are being considered and if need be amendments will be made in the Act after consultations. It will take some more time.”
To a query by Shivanand Tiwari (JD-U), Tirath said the
number of children kept under the Child Welfare Committee, the Competent Authority appointed under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, has increased from 214 to 617 now.
She said 74,742 juveniles have been assisted under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) of the Government in 2012-13.
Ram Prakash (Cong) asked if the government has kept any crime record of such children after they leave their juvenile homes and turn majors.
Tirath replied, “We track them till the age of 18 years to ascertain whether their conduct is good.”
He also demanded punishment be commensurate with the seriousness of crime committed and not according to the age.
Listing out some suggestions for amendments in the Act, Tirath said these include penal provision for non-registration of Homes for children, strengthening of provisions related to adoption of children, clarity in the roles of child welfare committees and juvenile justice boards, special provision for children in conflict with law who have committed heinous crimes and trial of such children in conflict with law in adult courts. (PTI)
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