Juvenile justice?
Supreme Court calls for stricter Juvenile Justice Act just before two minors, convicted for gang rapes, were sentenced to three years in a borstal school
Calling for a stricter Juvenile Justice Act, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said, “You can’t have a cut-off date for crime like you have for government jobs". The statement came just before two minors, convicted for the gang rapes of a photojournalist and telephone operator in Mumbai’s Shakti Mills case, were “sentenced" to three years in a borstal school to learn “good behaviour".
Just in case the absurdity is unclear: two rapists, repeat offenders no less, have been sent to a reform school to get “education" and “vocational training". Juxtapose that with the offence these men, and let us not be naive enough to call them teenagers, have committed and one wonders who the law is meant to protect. Human rights, child rights, and all other assorted rights activists, allege that “children" can be reformed. Such is the thinking that leads to criminals being sent to reform schools instead of jails. Such is the thinking that sees rape at par with a child caught cheating in an exam.
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