No consent on graded penalty for juveniles

Should there be a graded punishment for juveniles accused of heinous crimes? Moushumi Das Gupta reports.

Should there be a graded punishment for juveniles accused of heinous crimes?

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The Centre is grappling over the issue with differing views from women and child development (WCD), home and law ministries.

Sources said in a meeting held recently to discuss changes in the Juvenile Justice Act, the home and law ministries pressed for the need to have a graded punishment for juveniles but the WCD ministry is said to have opposed the idea.

"The ministry is opposed to the idea of treating such juveniles as adults," said an official.

Currently, if a juvenile is convicted he has to spend a maximum of three years in juvenile homes.

"In case of juveniles accused of heinous crimes, the ministry is considering to increase the period of stay in correction home to at least six years. It also wants to track the accused for a certain number of years after his release," said an official.