It is justice at last for victims in cases such as that of 'Nirbhaya', where the perpetrators of the crime have gotten off very lightly because of their age being less than 18 years. The Nirbhaya case especially sparked of a spirited debate to reduce the age to be tried as an adult.
The standard appeal was - if a boy is old enough to molest, rape or kill - he is also old enough to be tried for those crimes, for, there is nothing 'juvenile' about a rape or a murder. The idea of a juvenile home was to ensure that the child's mind does not get scarred by jail life but in the cases of these rapists and murderers, their minds are already so scarred that there is no harm in sending them to a jail.
The honourable courts may be requested to further harden their stand and define which crimes will be always be tried 'as if committed by an adult' irrespective of age. Bcoz a 'rape' or a 'murder' will always be a rape or a murder for the victim irrespective of the attacker's age - so, why should the punishment be any lesser? - in any case there is no 'loss of innocence' of a child by sending him to prison as his mind is already corrupt.
So, it is time for us to think of waiving off this age requirement altogether for heinous crimes which may be defined by the courts. and more importantly, it is also time to now get that juvenile who badly bruised 'Nirbhaya', into the ambit of this new law and not let him get away. That would be one legal battle which we all must stand by and I am sure that would bring joy to 'Nirbhaya' in the heavens above!!
LEST WE FORGET
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