Juvenile Act likely to see bold changes; no leniency to those accused of heinous crimes

NEW DELHI: The Women and Child Development ministry has recommended a slew of bold changes to the Juvenile Justice Act, including stricter punishment for juveniles involved in heinous crimes such as murder, rape, acid attack and sexual assault.

If accepted, 16-18 year children accused of murder and rape may be tried in normal courts instead of juvenile boards. The proposed amendments also include provisions to simplify adoption norms to make it more popular.

"Ever since the Delhi rape incident, women organisations have been asking for changes in the Act. Now it is up to the law ministry to get the amendments cleared by Parliament," said a senior official, who added that the proposed changes were made public a few days ago to enable experts to give their opinions.

Law ministry officials said they are looking into the recommendations by women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi, who had over five meetings with child protection specialists, women NGOs and legal consultants before finalising the draft.

The children between 16 and 18 years and charged of heinous crimes would be subjected to an inquiry of the juvenile board, which will pass an order within a month on trying them either under provisions of the JJ Act or transferring the case to the criminal court.

The act will also takes into account repeat offenders in cases of robbery, kidnapping and slavery.

The adoption guidelines have been revised to minimise delay in the process of adoption, a senior official said.