A sad feeling.

The sixth accused in the Delhi gangrape case has been declared a minor by the 'Juvenile Justice Board'. His age turns out to be 17 years and six months as gleaned from the records submitted by the Principal of the school in which he'd studied. The board relies on the birth certificate and the school records to fix the age.

What, exactly, does the law say?
 
    (a) Section 15(g) of the Juvenile Justice(Care and Protection of children) Act stipulates that a juvenile
         aged between 16 to 18 years if convicted of any offence can be sent to a special home for reformation,
         for a period of three years at the maximum and thereafter, be released on probation.
    (b) Section 16 of the Act says that a juvenile can be kept at the special home only till he attains 18 years  
         of age and he cannot be sent to jail thereafter.

What would be the implications?

     It would enable the accused to walk free by 04 Jun '13, when he will attain 18 years of age.

The family of the young lady is devastated because the accused was the most brutal of the six in torturing her.


Tailpiece.

I'm sad at the development. Something deep within has been churning ever since! It's my fond hope that we do not let down the young lady who'd gone down valiantly!!