New Delhi: The Union Cabinet will on Wednesday discuss a proposal which calls for giving more powers to the Juvenile Justice Board to decide on whether a juvenile above 16 years involved in heinous crimes such as rape is to be sent to a correctional centres or tried in a regular court.
Importantly, all Central ministries have given their approval to the proposed amendments to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and it has now been placed on the agenda for today's cabinet meeting.
The changes in the law come against the backdrop of outrage over the conviction of a minor in the Delhi gang-rape case of December, 2012.
The juvenile accused was tried in a juvenile court last year and sentenced to three years in a reform home.
A lighter punishment given to him despite his involvement in December 16 gang-rape case triggered a nationwide debate on punishment for juveniles convicted of heinous crimes.
However, according to the Bill, in no case the juvenile involved in a heinous crime will be sentenced to death or life imprisonment either when tried under the provisions of JJ Act or under the provisions of IPC.
Apart from that the amendments also include facilitating faster adoption of children and setting up foster care homes. The WCD Ministry intends to make the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) the statutory body, which means it will have powers to regulate inter-country adoptions along with issuing guidelines on adoption and related matter.(z)