RAPIST IS JUVENILE, BOARD RULES

The Juvenile Justice Board on Monday declared that the sixth accused, arrested in connection with the brutal gang-rape of a 23- year-old paramedic student on December 16, 2012, is a juvenile of 17 years, six months and 24 days (on January 28).

The declaration will set in motion a process that may see the juvenile delinquent walk free as early as the first week of June. The family of the victim termed the JJB decision “unfortunate” and said they would challenge the decision in a higher court.

The JJB also rejected the Delhi police plea for a bone ossification test of the sixth accused to determine his age.

Objecting to a bone ossification test on the sixth rapist, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) said, “As per the law the bone ossification test is conducted only in the absence of school certificates. In this case, the test is not required as the relevant certificate has been furnished by the school where the juvenile had purportedly done his initial schooling,” observed the JJB. Lawyers appearing for the prosecution said they would appeal the JJB order.

Section 15 (g) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act mandates that a juvenile aged between 16 and 18 years, if convicted, must be sent to a special home for three years at the maximum, and, thereafter, be rele-ased on probation. Section 16 provides that a juvenile can be kept at the special home till he turns 18 and cannot be sent to jail thereafter.