Submit Report on Juvenile Gangrape Convict by 21 December: NHRC

The NHRC has asked officials to submit the required paperwork on the juvenile convict by 21 December 2015.

Women carry a floral tribute at an event to mark the anniversary of the brutal gang rape of a student on a bus in Delhi. (Photo: Reuters)

The Delhi Chief Secretary, Police Commissioner, and Union Home Secretary have been issued conditional summons by the National Human Rights Commission. This followed a failure on their part to send requisite reports on the impending release of the juvenile convicted in the December 16 gangrape and murder of ‘Nirbhaya.’

They have now been asked by the Commission to submit the required paperwork by 21 December, 2015, or appear in person to explain why they could not do so.

The Commission, in response to a complaint from Nirbhaya’s parents had issued a notice to the concerned authorities on 20 November, calling for reports on the following:

• Whether any pre and post release plans have been prepared in the case of the juvenile, in accordance with the law.
  
• A copy of the discharge order, furnished by the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi.
  
• The Chief Secretary needs to confirm whether the juvenile has been subjected recently to psychological/psychiatric assessment.
  
• The Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India shall inform the action, if any, taken on the representation submitted by the complainants to the Home Minister.
  
  

‘Nirbhaya’s parents had stated that the juvenile, who was largely responsible for the death of their daughter and the most brutal among the offenders, was due for release sometime in December.

They had submitted that:

• Such people are a threat to the life and liberty of the common man.
  
• There should be a mechanism to keep a strict check on them, so that people are not at risk.
  
• The laws dealing with women and children ought to be strengthened.
  
  

They had also stated that the rate of recidivism for crimes of this nature.

Nirbhaya’s parents also made a representation to the Union Home Minister on the subject. A copy of the representation was submitted to the Commission along with the complaint.

In response, the Commission issued a statement saying that “there is no doubt that the complainants have undergone extreme agony and pain after the incident of rape and murder of their daughter. The fears expressed by them need to be looked into.”