Delhi HC Reserves Ruling on Juvenile’s Release in Dec 16 Case

The High Court reserved its judgement on a petition filed Subramanian Swamy opposing the release of the juvenile.

Policemen escort the juvenile convicted in the December 2012 gangrape case. (Photo: Reuters)

The Delhi High Court on Monday reserved its judgement on a petition filed by Janata Party MP Subramanian Swamy opposing the release of the former juvenile involved in the 16 December 2012 Delhi gangrape.

Swamy has opposed his release because in his view, the juvenile, who was reported to have inflicted the maximum brutality on Jyoti Singh Pandey (called “Nirbhaya” by the media and in public discourse) is an “animal” who has now turned into a “jihadi” because he was lodged with a terror offence convict.

This isn’t the first time that Swamy has moved court over the juvenile’s release. In 2013, he had filed a case in the Supreme Court, contending that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act was too lenient on those who commit heinous offences and must be amended accordingly. On 28 March 2014, the Supreme Court, in a detailed ruling, dismissed his petition and gave reasons as to why the age of juvenile criminality should not be lowered from the present limit of 18.