Juvenile to walk free on Dec 20, Nirbhaya’s parents devastated

Chennai

The convict, now 20-years-old, is expected to walk out of the reformation home on December 20, at the end of his three-year jail term unless there is a stay from the Supreme Court.

Brushing aside the public outcry against his release, a High Court Bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath directed the Juvenile Justice Board to interact with the convict, his parents and officials of the Department of Women and Child Development regarding his “rehabilitation”. The Bench said BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s plea seeking stay on the release of juvenile convict cannot be allowed as the statutory and existing law was coming in its way.

 “Having regard to the fact that the maximum stay that can be directed in the Special Home under Section 15(1) of the Juvenile Justice Act is three years and that the convict would be completing the period of three years by Dec 20, 2015, there cannot be any direction to continue his stay in the special home beyond Dec 20.

Hence, we decline to issue any direction as prayed by the petitioner,” the Bench said while allowing the convict to walk free. Six persons, including the juvenile, had brutally assaulted and raped a 23-year-old student on a moving bus in Delhi on Dec 16, 2012. The victim had died in a Singapore hospital on Dec 29, 2012. Mukesh, Vinay, Pawan and Akshay were awarded death penalty by a trial court in the gangrape and murder case which was later confirmed by Delhi High Court. Their appeals are pending before the Supreme Court.

Accused Ram Singh had allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail on March 11, 2013, and proceedings against him were abated following his death. The release of the convict was also opposed by Centre which had said that several mandatory aspects were missing from the post-release rehabilitation plan which needed to be considered before setting him free.