Underage gang-rape: Supreme Court rejects petition against juvenile's release

New Delhi: Delhi Supreme Court on Monday rejected the petition against the release of the underage offender for the December 16, 2012 gang-rape with paramedical student. Total number of rapists was six in offence. He was put in a remand home for three years, the maximum permissible under the legal provisions. Of the six, one was found dead in Tihar Jail. A trial court had awarded death penalty to the other four rapists which were upheld by the high court. Their appeals are pending before the apex court. The underage convict of the horrific 2012 Delhi gang-rape case was on Sunday released and sent to an NGO. A vacation bench comprising Justices AK Goel but UU Lalit rejected the petition filed by the Delhi Commission for Women seeking a stay on juvenile ' s release. According to the law. We have to enforce the law," the SC bench said while refusing to entertain the petition of Maliwal filed in her official capacity as DCW Chief. The bench did not agree with the submission that the juvenile offender can be subjected to the reformation process for a further period of two years under the juvenile law. "Will we not taking away somebody are right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. There is nothing in the law to provide that," the bench said when the counsel for DCW cited provisions to drive home the point that the underage offender can be allowed to go through the further reformation process. Reacting to the SC order, Nirbhaya ' s mother said she was not agreed with the verdict. DCW chief Swati Maliwal said it is a black day for the country. Notably, the Upper House is yet to pass the Bill to amend the Juvenile Justice Act which seeks stringent punishment for children aged between 16-18 involved in horrid crimes.